Printing apparatus and printing method

A printing apparatus comprising:

• (A) a reading section for reading an image from an original;
• (B) a printing section for printing an image on a medium;
• (C) a storage section for storing head-drive data;
• and
• (D) a controlling section that, upon obtaining N pieces of images including at least a first image and a second image by making the reading section perform a reading operation for reading the images from at least one sheet of original and making the printing section perform N-up printing for printing the N pieces of images in predetermined positions on a medium, generates head-drive data based on the images having been obtained and stores the head-drive data in the storage section, and makes the printing section carry out a printing operation to perform printing on the medium based on the head-drive data stored in the storage section, the controlling section being designed in such a manner that:
• the controlling section makes the reading section start the reading operation for reading the first image and starts to store, in the storage section, first head-drive data based on the first image;
• the controlling section makes the printing section start the printing operation for performing printing on the medium based on the first head-drive data stored in the storage section;
• after printing on the medium has been started based on the first head-drive data, the controlling section suspends the printing operation while a portion of the first head-drive data that has not yet been printed is still stored in the storage section;
• while the printing operation is being suspended, the controlling section makes the reading section start the reading operation for reading the second image and starts to generate second head-drive data based on the second image;
• the controlling section stores, in the storage section, the generated second head-drive data in addition to the portion of the first head-drive data that has not yet been printed;
• and
• the controlling section makes the printing section restart the printing operation and makes the printing section start printing based on the first head-drive data stored in the storage section and the second head-drive data stored in the storage section.