Image processor and image processing method

An image processor for processing input image data that corresponds to a pixel area in order to perform printing in the pixel area on a printing medium by a plurality of relative movements of a printing unit for printing a same color dot, with respect to the printing medium, comprising:

• a setting unit configured to set one mode from among a plurality of printing modes that include a first mode for printing in the pixel area by performing M (where M is an integer larger than 2) number of relative movements, and a second mode for printing in the pixel area by performing N (where N is an integer larger than 3 and N>M) number of relative movements;
• and
• a processing unit configured to, when the first mode has been set by the setting unit,
• (a) generate a plurality of multi-value image data for the same color corresponding to the plurality of relative movements, that have a lower resolution than the input image data, based on the input image data,
• (b) generate a plurality of quantized data corresponding to the plurality of relative movements, by performing quantization processing to each of the plurality of multi-value image data for the same color corresponding to the plurality of relative movements, and
• (c) generate a plurality of binary data corresponding to the plurality of relative movements, that have a higher resolution than the quantized data by performing binarization processing to each of the plurality of quantized data corresponding to the plurality of relative movements,
• and, when the second mode has been set by the setting unit,
• (d) generate a binary data for the same color by performing binarization processing of the input image data, and
• (e) divide the binary data for the same color to divisions corresponding to the plurality of relative movements.

An image processor for processing input image data that corresponds to a pixel area in order to perform printing in the pixel area on a printing medium by a plurality of relative movements of a printing unit for printing a same color dot, with respect to the printing medium, comprising:

• a setting unit configured to set one mode from among a plurality of printing modes that include a first mode for printing in the pixel area by performing M (where M is an integer larger than 2) number of relative movements, and a second mode for printing in the pixel area by performing N (where N is an integer larger than 3 and N>M) number of relative movements;
• and
• a processing unit configured to, when the first mode has been set by the setting unit,
• (a) generate a plurality of multi-value image data for the same color corresponding to the plurality of relative movements, that have a lower resolution than the input image data, based on the input image data;
• and
• (b) generate a plurality of binary data that have a higher resolution than the multi-value data corresponding to the plurality of relative movements, based on the plurality of multi-value data for the same color corresponding to the plurality of relative movements,
• and, when the second mode has been set by the setting unit,
• (c) generate a plurality of multi-value data corresponding to the plurality of relative movements, that have a resolution equal to the resolution of the input image data, based on the input image data, and
• (d) generate a plurality of binary data corresponding to the plurality of relative movements, by performing binarization processing to each of the plurality of multi-value data for the same color corresponding to the plurality of relative movements.