Liquid discharge head, and head cartridge and image forming apparatus using such liquid discharge head

A liquid discharge head having a plurality of discharge port arrays each having a plurality of discharge ports and each arranged substantially in parallel to a print medium conveying direction, and a plurality of discharge energy generating portions for discharging liquid from said discharge ports, respectively, said liquid discharge head moved to scan in a direction crossing said conveying direction, said liquid discharge head characterized in that

• each discharge port array includes first discharge ports each for discharging a liquid droplet of a first volume, and second discharge ports each for discharging a liquid droplet of a second volume being smaller than said first volume, said discharge port arrays that are adjacent to each other have each of said first and second discharge ports as a pair in said scanning direction, and said liquid discharge head has a first discharge port array wherein first discharge port groups each having said first discharge ports are arranged on both end sides of said discharge port array so as to include end discharge ports of said first discharge ports that discharge liquid contributing to image formation, and at least one second discharge port group having said second discharge ports is arranged between said first discharge port groups, said liquid discharge head further having a first discharge mode that performs recording using only said first discharge ports, and a second discharge mode that performs gradation recording using said first discharge ports and said second discharge ports.