Image processing method and image processing apparatus

An image processing method for 1) inputting, through a signal, an original image for displaying in a matrix form, and for 2) performing pixel number conversion, on the original image, at a predetermined pixel number conversion rate in at least one of a column direction and a row direction which has been specified, the image processing method including:

• a first interpolation step of outputting a converted image corresponding to an original image, at a predetermined pixel number conversion rate;
• a second interpolation step of outputting a pixel in the converted image by performing a pattern matching on the pixel in the converted image using a predetermined conversion table;
• a selecting step of selecting between the output at the first interpolating step and the output at the second interpolating step;
• a character judging step of judging whether each of a plurality of areas making up the original image is a character part or not, based on information on a line included in the original image;
• wherein in the selecting step, for an area judged to be a character part in the character judging step, a first pixel number conversion method is selected for performing the pixel number conversion so that lines with a same line-width in an original image is converted into lines with a same line-width, and for an area not judged to be a character part in the character judging step, a second pixel number conversion method is selected for performing the pixel number conversion so that a barycenter in the original image is maintained after the pixel number conversion,
• wherein the first pixel number conversion method is selected when a difference between the pixel number conversion rate and a nearest integer is smaller than a predetermined value, and the second pixel number conversion method is selected when the difference is greater than the predetermined value.