Image recording method and image recording apparatus

An image recording apparatus which is capable of changing a dot size of each of dots formed by a plurality of nozzles when an image is recorded by ejecting ink onto a recording medium from a print head having the nozzles while moving the print head and the recording medium relatively to each other, the image recording apparatus comprising:.

• a memory device which stores reference density characteristics with respect to each dot size which are previously obtained by measuring a prescribed test pattern formed on the recording medium by means of the nozzles;
• a density characteristic acquiring device which acquires density characteristics of print areas corresponding to the nozzles, with respect to each dot size;
• a compensation device which compensates a droplet ejection rate signal of each of the nozzles so that the density characteristics acquired by the density characteristic acquiring device coincide with the reference density characteristics, with respect to each dot size;
• and
• a quantization device which quantizes each droplet ejection rate signal which is compensated by the compensation device.

An image recording method of recording an image by ejecting ink onto a recording medium from a print head having a plurality of nozzles while moving the print head and the recording medium relatively to each other, the image recording method comprising the steps of:

• storing reference density characteristics obtained by measuring a prescribed test pattern formed on the recording medium by means of the nozzles;
• acquiring density characteristics of print areas corresponding to the nozzles;
• compensating a droplet ejection rate signal of each of the nozzles so that the acquired density characteristics of the print areas corresponding to the nozzles coincide with the reference density characteristics;
• and
• quantizing the compensated droplet ejection rate signal.