Image processing apparatus and method

An image processing method of an image forming apparatus which inputs image data in a unit of a line for each color component and outputs in a serial recording method using recording heads aligned in parallel in a sub-scanning direction comprising:

• a first write step of serially inputting each of plural kinds of color component data for each pixel, and writing each color component data for each line into a first line buffer;
• a second write step of reading in a unit of a line each color component data written in the first line buffer, and writing each color component data corresponding to the plural lines into a second line buffer having a capacity which is larger than that of the first line buffer;
• a conversion step of performing longitudinal-to-lateral converting by using each color component data corresponding to the plural lines written in the second line buffer;
• and
• an output step of serially outputting a visible image representing each color component data corresponding to the plural lines converted in said conversion step.

An image processing apparatus which inputs image data in a unit of a line for each color component and outputs the image data to a recording unit of a serial recording method using recording heads aligned on parallel in a sub-scanning direction comprising:

• an image process unit for performing an image process on color component data of plural colors serially inputted by predetermined input means, in response to a first sync signal;
• first write means for writing image data subjected to the image process by said image process unit, into a first line buffer in response to the first sync signal;
• second write means for writing the image data stored in the first line buffer, into a second line buffer operating in response to a second sync signal;
• and
• output means for serially outputting the image data stored in the second line buffer.

An image processing method to be executed in an image processing apparatus which inputs image data in a unit of a line for each color component and outputs the image data to a recording unit of a serial recording method using recording heads aligned in parallel in a sub-scanning direction and which has an image processing unit for performing responsive to a first sync signal an image process on color component data of plural colors serially inputted by a predetermined input means, said method comprising:

• a first write step of writing image data subjected to the image process by the image process unit, into a first line buffer in response to the first sync signal;
• a second write step of writing the image data stored in the first line buffer, into a second line buffer operating in response to a second sync signal;
• and
• an output step of serially outputting the image data stored in the second line buffer.