Image processing apparatus, printing apparatus, and image processing method

A printing apparatus that uses a print head to perform printing onto a print medium based on print data for each of a plurality of divided images, in order to divide each of a plurality of images which are distinguished from each other by channel information that identifies an image into the plurality of divided images to perform printing, said apparatus comprising:

• first processing means for dividing multi-valued data of the image into multi-valued data of the plurality of divided images and making the multi-valued data of each of the plurality of divided images subjected to gradation lowering processing to be print data of a lower gradation value;
• second processing means for making the multi-valued data of the image subjected to gradation lowering processing to be print data of a lower gradation value and dividing the print data of the lower gradation value into a plurality of print data;
• and
• selecting means for, based on the channel information, selecting processing of the multi-valued data of the image for said channel information to be performed by said first processing means or to be performed by said second processing means.

An image processing method that, for dividing each of a plurality of images which are distinguished from each other by channel information that identifies an image into a plurality of divided images to perform printing, generates print data for each of the plurality of divided images, said method comprising:

• a first processing step of dividing multi-valued data of the image into multi-valued data of the plurality of divided images and making the multi-valued data of each of the plurality of divided images subjected to gradation lowering processing to be print data of a lower gradation value;
• a second processing step of making the multi-valued data of the image subjected to gradation lowering processing to be print data of a lower gradation value and dividing the print data of the lower gradation value into a plurality of print data;
• and
• a selecting step of, based on the channel information, selecting processing of the multi-valued data of the image for said channel information to be performed by said first processing step or to be performed by said second processing step.

A program that is readable by a computer and causes the computer to function as an image processing apparatus that, for dividing each of a plurality of images which are distinguished from each other by channel information that identifies an image into a plurality of divided images to perform printing, generates print data for each of the plurality of divided images, said function comprising:

• first processing means for dividing multi-valued data of the image into multi-valued data of the plurality of divided images and making the multi-valued data of each of the plurality of divided images subjected to gradation lowering processing to be print data of a lower gradation value;
• second processing means for making the multi-valued data of the image subjected to gradation lowering processing to be print data of a lower gradation value and dividing the print data of the lower gradation value into a plurality of print data;
• and
• selecting means for, based on the channel information, selecting processing of the multi-valued data of the image for said channel information to be performed by said first processing means or to be performed by said second processing means.