Printing apparatus, reading method, and reading apparatus

A reading apparatus that reads a test pattern for correcting a printing characteristic formed by a printing apparatus that forms the test pattern and includes a printing head having a nozzle row in which a plurality of nozzles configured to eject a droplet onto a medium are aligned, and a control unit that controls movement of at least one of the medium and the printing head in a scanning direction intersecting an alignment direction of the plurality of nozzles, and ejection of the droplet from the printing head, the reading apparatus comprising:

• a reading unit that reads a density of a printing surface in the medium in units of reading resolution in a first reading direction and a second reading direction intersecting the first reading direction;
• a conveyance unit that conveys the medium having the test pattern to the reading unit;
• and
• an inclination processing unit that inclines the medium such that a reading direction that serves as a reference of inclination from the scanning direction of the first reading direction and the second reading direction inclines by an inclination angle θ that satisfies 0°<θ<90° along the printing surface from the scanning direction when the medium is conveyed to the reading unit.

A reading apparatus that reads a test pattern for correcting a printing characteristic formed by a printing apparatus that forms the test pattern and includes a printing head having a nozzle row in which a plurality of nozzles configured to eject a droplet onto a medium are aligned, and a control unit that controls movement of at least one of the medium and the printing head in a scanning direction intersecting an alignment direction of the plurality of nozzles, and ejection of the droplet from the printing head, the reading apparatus comprising:

• a medium placement unit on which the medium is placed;
• a plurality of reading elements that read a density of a printing surface in the medium while moving in at least one of a first reading direction and a second reading direction intersecting the first reading direction;
• and
• a guide that determines an orientation of the medium placed on the medium placement unit such that a reading direction that serves as a reference of inclination from the scanning direction of the first reading direction and the second reading direction inclines by an inclination angle θ that satisfies 0°<θ<90° along the printing surface from the scanning direction when the test pattern on the medium placed on the medium placement unit is read by the plurality of reading elements.