Recording apparatus and method

A recording apparatus configured to perform marginless recording to record an image on a recording medium without providing a margin on an end portion of the recording medium, using a recording head including a plurality of recording elements arranged in a predetermined direction and adapted to apply a recording agent to the recording medium, the recording apparatus comprising:

• a first recording control unit configured to record an image on a central portion of the recording medium by using recording elements of the recording head while scanning the recording head in a direction different from the predetermined direction;
• a second recording control unit configured to record an image on a front end portion and a rear end portion of the recording medium by using recording elements the number of which is less than that of the recording elements used to record an image on the central portion of the recording medium while scanning the recording head in the direction different from the predetermined direction;
• and
• a recording mode selecting unit configured to select a recording mode from a plurality of recording modes differing from one another in at least one of recording quality and recording time,
• wherein a ratio between the number of the recording elements used by the first recording control unit and the number of the recording element used by the second recording control unit is changed according to the recording mode selected by the recording mode selecting unit.

A recording method for forming an image on a recording medium by repeating a main scanning operation and a subscanning operation, the main scanning operation being operative to scan a recording head in a direction different from a predetermined direction, the recording head including a plurality of recording elements arranged in the predetermined direction and adapted to apply a recording agent to the recording medium, the subscanning operation being operative to convey the recording medium in a direction transverse to the scanning direction, the recording method comprising:

• a first recording step of recording an image on a central portion of the recording medium by using recording elements of the recording head during the main scanning operation;
• a second recording step of recording an image on at least one of a front end portion and a rear end portion of the recording medium by using recording elements the number of which is less than that of the recording element used in the first recording step, during the main scanning operation;
• and
• a recording mode selecting step of selecting a recording mode from a plurality of recording modes differing from one another in at least one of recording quality and recording time,
• wherein a ratio of the number of the recording elements used in the second recording step to the number of the recording elements used in the first recording step is changed according to the recording mode selected in the recording mode selecting step.

A recording method for performing marginless recording to record an image on a recording medium without providing a margin on an end portion of the recording medium, using a recording head including a plurality of recording elements arranged in a predetermined direction and adapted to apply a recording agent to the recording medium, the recording method comprising:

• a first recording control step of recording an image on a central portion of the recording medium by using recording elements of the recording head while scanning the recording head in a direction different from the predetermined direction;
• a second recording control step of recording an image on at least one of a front end portion and a rear end portion of the recording medium by using recording elements the number of which is less than that of the recording elements used in the first recording control step while scanning the recording head in the direction different from the predetermined direction;
• and
• a recording mode selecting step of selecting a recording mode from a plurality of recording modes differing from one another in at least one of recording quality and recording time,
• wherein a ratio between the number of the recording elements used in the first recording step and the number of the recording element used in the second recording control step is changed according to the recording mode selected in the recording mode selecting step.