Printing with varied dot-recording rate with respect to each printing region

A print method of printing by ejecting an ink on a printing medium, comprising:

• a dot data generation step of generating dot data representing a state of dot formation at each pixel according to a pixel value of given image data;
• and
• a step of forming dots by ejecting the ink on the printing medium according to the generated dot data;
• wherein the dot data generation step includes the step of generating the dot data, such that the state of dot formation with respect to at least part of the pixel values in a pixel belonging to an end area located on an end of the printing medium is different from the state of dot formation in a pixel belonging to a middle area located in a middle of the printing medium, so as to reduce adhesion of the ink to the print unit, and wherein
• the step of forming dots comprises the step of providing a print head having a plurality of nozzles and a plurality of ejection drive elements for ejecting an ink from the plurality of nozzles, and is capable of selectively forming one of N types of dots having different sizes at one pixel area with each nozzle, the N being an integer of at least 2, and
• the dot data generation step includes the step of making a value of a specific dot recording rate with respect to at least part of the pixel values in the pixel belonging to the end area lower than a value of the specific dot recording rate in the pixel belonging to the middle area, the specific dot being at least one relatively small-size dot among the N types of dots.

A printing apparatus for printing by ejecting an ink on a printing medium, comprising:

• a print unit configured to form dots by ejecting an ink on a printing medium;
• a print data generator configured to generate dot data representing a state of dot formation at each pixel according to a pixel value of given image data, and generate print data to be supplied to the print unit according to the dot data,
• wherein the print data generator is configured to generate the dot data, such that the state of dot formation with respect to at least part of the pixel values in a pixel belonging to an end area located on an end of the printing medium is different from the state of dot formation in a pixel belonging to a middle area located in a middle of the printing medium, so as to reduce adhesion of the ink to the print unit, and wherein
• the printing unit comprises a print head having a plurality of nozzles and a plurality of ejection drive elements for ejecting an ink from the plurality of nozzles, and is capable of selectively forming one of N types of dots having different sizes at one pixel area with each nozzle, the N being an integer of at least 2, and
• the dot data generator is configured to make a value of a specific dot recording rate with respect to at least part of the pixel values in the pixel belonging to the end area lower than a value of the specific dot recording rate in the pixel belonging to the middle area, the specific dot being at least one relatively small-size dot among the N types of dots.

A computer program product for causing a computer to generate print data to be supplied to a print unit to print, the print unit forming dots on a print medium by ejecting an ink, the computer program product comprising:

• a computer readable medium;
• and
• a computer program stored on the computer readable medium, the computer program comprising:
• a program for causing the computer to generate dot data representing a state of dot formation at each pixel according to a pixel value of given image data,
• wherein the program is configured to generate the dot data, such that the state of dot formation with respect to at least part of the pixel values in a pixel belonging to an end area located on an end of the printing medium is different from the state of dot formation in a pixel belonging to a middle area located in a middle of the printing medium, so as to reduce adhesion of the ink to the print unit, and wherein
• the printing unit comprises a print head having a plurality of nozzles and a plurality of ejection drive elements for ejecting an ink from the plurality of nozzles, and is capable of selectively forming one of N types of dots having different sizes at one pixel area with each nozzle, the N being an integer of at least 2, and
• the program is configured to make a value of a specific dot recording rate with respect to at least part of the pixel values in the pixel belonging to the end area lower than a value of the specific dot recording rate in the pixel belonging to the middle area, the specific dot being at least one relatively small-size dot among the N types of dots.