Ink-jet recording apparatus and recording method therefor

An ink jet recording apparatus, comprising:

• a recording head having a plurality of dot formation element arrays arranged in a first direction that a recording medium is transported, wherein each of the dot formation element arrays is associated with one color of ink and includes a plurality of dot formation elements arranged in the first direction and adapted to form ink dots on the recording medium;
• and
• a platen opposing the recording head, the platen having:
• a supporting face adapted to support the recording medium transported in the first direction;
• a plurality of first areas, each of which is formed in an area of the platen opposing a downstream portion of one of the dot formation element arrays with respect to the first direction, and which guides ink that has been discarded outside a leading end of the recording medium when data are recorded on the recording medium without leaving a margin on the leading end of the recording medium;
• and
• a plurality of second areas, each of which is formed in an area of the platen opposing an upstream portion of one of the dot formation element arrays with respect to the first direction, and which guides ink that has been discarded outside a trailing end of the recording medium when data are recorded on the recording medium without leaving a margin on the trailing end of the recording medium,
• wherein the first areas and the second areas are lower than the supporting face.