Image recording apparatus

An image processing method comprising the steps of:

• receiving first pixel data for a large pixel region, and second pixel data for a small pixel region, wherein a plurality of the small pixel regions correspond to one large pixel region, said second pixel data overlying the first pixel data so that second pixel data exists for at least some of said small pixel regions contained within at least some large pixel regions;
• receiving identification signals which indicate whether second pixel data exists for each small pixel region;
• and
• generating third pixel data to be supplied to recording means, on the basis of the first and the second pixel data and the identification signals.

An image processing apparatus comprising;

• means for receiving first pixel data of a first resolution and second pixel data of a second resolution which is an integral multiple of the first resolution, said second pixel data overlying the first pixel data so that second pixel data exists for at least some of the second resolution regions contained within at least some first resolution regions;
• means for receiving identification signals which indicate whether the second pixel data exists for each pixel region of the second resolution;
• and
• means for generating third pixel data to be supplied to recording means, on the basis of the first and the second pixel data and the identification signals.

An image processing method comprising the steps of:

• receiving first pixel data of a first resolution and second pixel data of a second resolution which is an integral multiple of the first resolution, said second pixel data overlying the first pixel data so that second pixel data exists for at least some of the second resolution regions contained within at least some first resolution regions;
• receiving identification signals which indicate whether the second pixel data exists for each pixel region of said second resolution;
• and
• generating third pixel data to be supplied to recording means, on the basis of the first and the second pixel data and the identification signals.

An image processing apparatus having a device for outputting image data to a printing means which prints a halftone image on a predetermined recording medium, comprising:

• receiving means for receiving image data including binary image data to be printed with a first resolution or multivalued image data to be printed with a second resolution lower than said first resolution and identifying data indicating whether or not a given pixel is binary or multivalued;
• binary/multivalued detection means for detecting whether a pixel area of interest represented by said second resolution includes only binary pixels having said first resolution or only multivalued pixels having said first resolution or binary and multivalued pixels having said first resolution, in accordance with the identifying data;
• and
• determination means for determining pixel data on the basis of the result of detection by said binary/multivalued detection means and data received by said receiving means.