Ink jet recording apparatus and ink jet recording method

A recording method for a recording apparatus to form a color image on a medium, the recording method comprising:

• obtaining, for a region of color image data, representing the color image, divided into a plurality of regions, an index indicating ratio of haze to gloss for the region;
• determining whether the haze to gloss ratio index for the region is less than a predetermined threshold;
• applying ink to the region on the medium by an applying unit,
• wherein, in response to determining that the haze to gloss ratio index for the region is less than the predetermined threshold and before applying an overcoating member, applying ink to the region on the medium includes simultaneously applying, in a same scanning between the applying unit and the medium, droplets of color ink and droplets of clear ink from the applying unit in a way that causes the droplets of color ink and the droplets of clear ink to immingle and form a predetermined amount of ink irregularities in a surface of the color ink layer, and
• wherein, in response to determining that the haze to gloss ratio index for the region is not less than the predetermined threshold, applying includes refraining from using droplets of clear ink and applying the droplets of color ink to form the color ink layer without using droplets of clear ink;
• and
• applying, after ink irregularities are formed in the surface of the color ink, the overcoating member to overcoat the applied color ink and any applied clear ink.