Printing apparatus and printing method

A printing method in which a plurality of dots of different sizes including a first dot and a second dot can be formed on a printing medium using an ink, the method comprising:

• performing the printing by
• a first print mode having a plurality of gradation reproduction regions including a first gradation reproduction region of a first print mode which uses the first dot and does not use the second dot and a second gradation reproduction region of the first print mode which uses the first dot and the second dot, and
• a second print mode having a plurality of gradation reproduction regions including a first gradation reproduction region of a second print mode which uses the first dot and does not use the second dot and a second gradation reproduction region of the second print mode which uses the first dot and the second dot,
• wherein, in the performing of the printing,
• the first dot is smaller than the second dot,
• a print speed in the first print mode is lower than a print speed in the second print mode, and
• the first gradation reproduction region of the first print mode is larger than the first gradation reproduction region of the second print mode.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing a computer program for forming a plurality of dots of different sizes including a first dot and a second dot on a printing medium using an ink, the program, when executed by a computer, causing the computer to realize functions of:

• performing the printing by
• a first print mode having a plurality of gradation reproduction regions including a first gradation reproduction region of a first print mode which uses the first dot and does not use the second dot and a second gradation reproduction region of the first print mode which uses the first dot and the second dot, and
• a second print mode having a plurality of gradation reproduction regions including a first gradation reproduction region of a second print mode which uses the first dot and does not use the second dot and a second gradation reproduction region of the second print mode which uses the first dot and the second dot;
• making the first dot be smaller than the second dot;
• making a print speed in the first print mode be lower than a print speed in the second print mode;
• and
• making the first gradation reproduction region of the first print mode be larger than the first gradation reproduction region of the second print mode.