Image processing apparatus and image processing method

An image processing apparatus comprising:

• a recording rate determining section for determining a recording rate of each of a plurality of dot types having different densities per unit area from each other according to an input value comprising a multi-gradation image data, the input value being quantized for forming a dot of the plurality of dot types;
• a dot formation judging section for determining a total recording rate by summing each recording rate of the plurality of dot types having different densities per unit area from each other, and for judging whether a dot of a dot type among the plurality of dot types having different densities per unit area from each other is to be formed on each pixel temporarily, based on the total recording rate;
• and
• a dot selecting section for selecting whether to replace the dot of the dot type among the plurality of dot types having different densities per unit area from each other, judged to be formed on the pixel temporarily by the dot formation judging section, with a dot of another dot type among the plurality of dot types having different densities per unit area from each other,
• wherein an image is formed according to an arrangement distribution of the dot.

An image processing apparatus comprising:

• a recording rate determining section for determining at least one recording rate of a dot type among a plurality of dot types having different densities per unit area from each other according to an input value comprising a multi-gradation image data, the input value being quantized for forming a dot of the plurality of dot types, and for determining a total recording rate which is a sum total of each recording rate of the plurality of dot types having different densities per unit area from each other;
• a dot formation judging section for judging whether the dot is to be formed on each pixel based on the total recording rate determined by the recording rate determining section;
• a dot selecting section for selecting a dot type among the plurality of dot types having different densities per unit area from each other, to a pixel on which the dot formation judging section judges that the dot is to be formed,
• wherein an image is formed according to an arrangement distribution of the dot.

An image processing method comprising:

• determining a recording rate of each of a plurality of dot types having different densities per unit area from each other according to an input value comprising a multi-gradation image data, the input value being quantized for forming a dot;
• judging whether the dot is to be formed on each pixel based on a total recording rate which is a sum total of each determined recording rate of the plurality of dot types having different densities per unit area from each other;
• and
• selecting a dot type among the plurality of dot types having different densities per unit area from each other, to a pixel on which it is judged that the dot is to be formed,
• wherein an image is formed according to an arrangement distribution of the dot.