Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and program

An image processing apparatus for generating planes, on which recording is performed for a plurality of times on a same area of a recording medium, for forming an image by generating a plurality of image data pieces indicating a dot per pixel and having gradation of an n value, where n is a natural number smaller than m, based on image data having gradation of an m value, the image processing apparatus comprising:

• a quantization unit configured to quantize a pixel value of a target pixel in input image data having gradation of an m value into an output value of the target pixel for output image data having gradation of an n value, wherein the output value represents ON or OFF of a dot;
• and
• a plane separation unit configured to determine an output value corresponding to the target pixel of each of a plurality of planes, based on the quantization value quantized by the quantization unit, wherein the plurality of planes includes at least two types of planes,
• wherein the plane separation unit is configured to, in a case where the quantization value of the target pixel represents ON of a dot, set the quantization value representing ON of a dot, to an output value corresponding to the target pixel of any one of the plurality of planes, based on distance information of the target pixel of each plane, the distance information of the target pixel indicating a distance from a pixel having a quantization value representing ON of a dot which has previously been set.