Test pattern forming method, adjustment value determination method, and printing apparatus

A printing apparatus comprising:

• a recording head configured to eject a liquid onto a medium;
• a drive unit configured to change a relative positional relationship between the recording head and the medium;
• and
• a control unit configured to control formation of a test pattern for acquiring a printing characteristic of the printing apparatus, wherein
• the test pattern includes a plurality of patches arranged in a predetermined direction,
• the plurality of patches include a plurality of first characteristic patches indicating a first characteristic of the printing characteristic, and further include a plurality of second characteristic patches indicating a second characteristic of the printing characteristic, and
• the control unit controls the change in the relative positional relationship by the drive unit and the ejection of the liquid from the recording head such that the test pattern is formed on the medium in which, in the predetermined direction, the first characteristic patches are not adjacent to each other and the second characteristic patches are not adjacent to each other among the plurality of patches.