Image processing method, printing method, and printing system

An image processing method of generating, based on image data, printing data for causing a printing apparatus to perform printing with a printing density of a printing image corrected, the image processing method comprising:

• a correction density setting step for setting a correction density as a correction value for the printing density of the printing image;
• a pixel area discrimination step for extracting, based on the image data, an edge pixel area including an edge pixel constituting a contour of the printing image, and discriminating an inner pixel area surrounded by the edge pixel area and the edge pixel area;
• a printing density setting step for setting a printing density of the inner pixel area as the correction density and a printing density of the edge pixel area as a printing density different from the correction density when the correction density is equal to or greater than a predetermined density threshold value, and setting the printing density of the inner pixel area and the printing density of the edge pixel area as the correction density when the correction density is less than the predetermined density threshold value;
• and
• a printing data generation step for generating the printing data based on the printing density set in the printing density setting step.