JPH08118732A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To convert an arbitrary image to the image of a feel of blur or highlight and to print it by printing the image formed of a print dot pattern after a specific row and column of the dot for forming an enlarged image are masked. CONSTITUTION: Each image data stored in an image memory 13 is converted to a print density pattern stored in a ROM 14, and the dot pattern of the image desired to be printed is developed in a print pattern memory 16. The pixels of the original image are formed by a print density pattern of (4×4) dots. Then, when the original image is enlarged to longitudinal and lateral n×m times, the dot data of the p rows of the n rows of the print dot pattern of the enlarged image are masked and/or the dot data of the q rows of the m columns are masked. In this case, o<p<n and o<q<m are to be satisfied. Thus, the print dot pattern to be printed is masked by the different patterns, thereby strengthening the blurred impression of the image.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, and more particularly to a printing apparatus capable of converting an image into a blurred image like a background image and printing the image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A printing apparatus, such as a video printer, which captures an arbitrary image with a video camera, an image scanner or the like and prints the captured image is known. In this type of printing apparatus, it is general to add an editing function of not only printing the captured image as it is, but also editing / correcting and printing.

[0003]

However, the editing function of this type of printing apparatus is insufficient, and it has been difficult to edit / correct the captured image as intended by the user before printing. For example, the function of converting an image into a "blurred or blurry" feeling like a background image and printing or converting into an emphasized feeling and printing is performed in order to improve the expressiveness of this type of printing apparatus. Although effective, no method has been proposed to realize this kind of function. In particular, this type of printing apparatus is desired to have a function of converting the captured image into an image having a blurred or emphasized image only by software processing and printing the image.

The present invention has been made in view of the above situation, and an object thereof is to provide a printing apparatus capable of converting an arbitrary image into an image having a feeling of being blurred or emphasized and printing the image. Another object of the present invention is to provide a printing device having excellent expressiveness.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, a printing apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention is a storage device for storing image data of an image composed of a plurality of pixels, and the storage device. Allocating means for allocating a predetermined print dot pattern for each of the plurality of gradations to each of the pixels according to the gradation of each pixel of the image defined by the image data stored in An image composed of a print dot pattern after being enlarged by the enlarging means for enlarging the length of the image composed of the printed dot pattern by n times and the width of the image by m times is constructed. Masking means for masking at least one of p rows for every n rows and q columns for every m columns;
A printing unit that prints the image masked by the masking unit.

In order to achieve the above object, the second aspect of the present invention
According to the printing device according to the aspect, a storage unit that stores image data of an image composed of a plurality of pixels, and a gradation of each pixel of the image defined by the image data stored in the storage unit, A mask that masks an image composed of a printing dot pattern, which is predetermined for each of a plurality of gradations, to the pixels, and an image composed of the printing dot pattern allocated by the allocating device according to a predetermined mask pattern. Means and an output means for outputting an image composed of the print dot pattern after being masked by the mask means.

In order to achieve the above object, the third aspect of the present invention
According to the printing device according to the aspect, a storage unit that stores image data of an image composed of a plurality of pixels, and a gradation of each pixel of the image defined by the image data stored in the storage unit, A mask that masks an image composed of a printing dot pattern, which is predetermined for each of a plurality of gradations, to the pixels, and an image composed of the printing dot pattern allocated by the allocating device according to a predetermined mask pattern. Means and an output means for outputting an image composed of the print dot pattern after being masked by the mask means.

When the image is a color image, for example, three pixels of three primary colors form one point on the image. In this case, the color image can be converted into an image with a blurred or emphasized feeling and printed by performing the same process for each pixel of each color. The same print dot pattern may be assigned to different gradations. The gradation of the image may be reduced in advance, and then the print dot pattern corresponding to the gradation may be assigned to each pixel having the reduced gradation.

According to this printing apparatus, it is possible to print an image which is blurred or wholly emphasized.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. (First Embodiment) First, the structure of a printing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 1, an analog video signal supplied from an image acquisition device 11 such as an image reader, a video camera, a video deck, a personal computer is A / D.
It is supplied to the (analog-digital) converter 12. A / D
The converter 12 converts the supplied analog video signal into digital image data (luminance data), and the image memory 1
Store in 3. In this embodiment, the image data has a data width of 4 bits, 16 levels of brightness can be designated, the highest (bright) level is 15 and the lowest level (dark level) is 0. Has become.

As shown in FIG. 2, the ROM 14 stores a print density pattern (print dot pattern) for printing each pixel forming the image stored in the image memory 13, for each print gradation. In this embodiment, the gradation (shade gradation) of the image to be printed is not expressed by the density of the ink to be printed, but the area occupied by the dots to which the ink in the pixel to be printed and the ink are attached. It is controlled by the arrangement of the dots. That is, each pixel of the printed image is composed of vertical and horizontal 4 × 4 dots (print dots), and the area and arrangement of ink are changed according to the gradation to control the gradation of each pixel.

As shown in FIG. 2, when the gradation is the highest (the density is the lowest and the brightness is bright) 15, ink is not printed on the pixel and the gradation is the lowest (the density is the highest). , Dark) At level 0, ink is printed on the entire pixel. For the intermediate gradation, the desired density is expressed by appropriately selecting the area and arrangement of the ink. Further, in this embodiment, the ROM 14 stores two types of print density patterns for normal printing and for gradation printing. In each of the print density patterns shown in FIG. 2, the hatched dots indicate dots that are printed with ink during normal printing and are not printed with blurred printing. Therefore, during normal printing, gradation levels from 0 to 15
The print density patterns are all different up to, but when blurring printing, level 1 and level 2, level 3 and level 4 ...
.. The print density patterns of .. are set equal to each other.
This is to make the gradation change unclear and to make the image look blurry. The ROM 14 stores each print density pattern
For example, a dot to be printed is stored in a format of "1", and a dot not to be printed is stored in a format of "0".

The control unit 15 is composed of a CPU and the like, discriminates the data value of each image data stored in the image memory 13, and sets the print density pattern corresponding to the level to R.
It is read from the OM 14 and developed on the print pattern memory 16. Further, the control unit 15 edits (enlarges / masks) the print pattern data stored in the print pattern memory 16 for the blurring process described later.

Under the control of the control unit 15, the print control unit 17 reads the print pattern data stored in the print pattern memory 16 and supplies it to the printer 18 to print the developed image. The print control unit 17
May be realized as one function of the control unit 15. The printer 18 is, for example, a thermal transfer type that heats a thermal head to transfer the ink on the ink ribbon onto a sheet for printing, or forms an electrostatic latent image on a photoconductor and forms an electrostatic latent image. It is composed of, for example, an electrostatographic type which forms a corresponding toner image and transfers it onto a sheet. The key input unit 19
The control unit 15 is provided with a capture key, a normal print key, a blur print key, and the like, and issues an image capture instruction and a print instruction to the control unit 15.

Next, the blurring method used in this embodiment will be described. First, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, each image data (luminance data) stored in the image memory 13 is converted into a print density pattern stored in the ROM 14 and printed on the print pattern memory 16. Expand the dot pattern (print dot pattern) of the image you want (original image). As shown in FIG. 3B, each pixel of the original image is composed of a print density pattern composed of 4 × 4 dots. Note that FIG. 3B shows an example in which the gradation of the first pixel of the original image is 7 or 8.

Next, this print dot pattern is shown in FIG.
As shown in (C), the image is enlarged vertically and horizontally. That is, the dot data A _{i, j of} the original image (i is a row number, j is a column number, both are integers greater than or equal to 1) are enlarged dot data A _{2i, 2j} , A _2i-1,2j , A _{2i, 2j-1} , A _2i-1,2j-1
And

The black-and-white ratio of the enlarged print dot pattern is the same as the original print dot pattern, and the density level is the same as the original image.

Next, for the pixels in the odd-numbered rows and the odd-numbered columns and the even-numbered rows and the even-numbered columns, as shown in FIG. 3D, the print dot patterns (data) of the even-numbered rows and columns of the enlarged print dot pattern are shown. Is masked to 0 (white). Also,
For pixels in even-numbered rows and odd-numbered columns and odd-numbered rows and even-numbered columns, FIG.
As shown in (E), the print dot patterns (data) in the odd-numbered rows and columns of the enlarged print dot pattern are masked to 0 (white).

In the print dot patterns shown in FIGS. 3D and 3E, the ratio of black dots is smaller than that of the print dot patterns in FIGS. 3B and 3C, and the gradation is high (density is high). Low and thin). By this processing, the print dot pattern generated as shown in FIG. 3 (F) becomes a pattern to be printed, and the print dot pattern shown in FIG. 3 (D) and the print dot pattern shown in FIG. 3 (E) alternate. , And its density is lower than that of the original image.
In this way, by masking the print dot patterns to be printed with different patterns alternately, it is possible to enhance the blurry impression of the image.

Next, the procedure for capturing and printing an image will be described with reference to FIG. When the user gives an instruction to capture an image from the key input unit 19, this instruction is given in step S1.
Detected in. In response to this detection, the control unit 15 drives the image acquisition device 11 to capture an image (step S
2) The analog video signal of the captured image is converted into 4-bit digital data indicating the brightness of each pixel by the A / D converter 12 (step S3) and sequentially stored in the image memory 13 (step S4).

When the image data for one image is stored in the image memory 13, the control section 15 waits for a print instruction from the key input section 19 (step S5). When normal printing is instructed from the key input unit 19, this instruction is detected in step S5, and the flow proceeds to step S6. In step S6, the control unit 15 sequentially reads the image data from the image memory 13, reads the print density pattern for normal printing corresponding to the image data from the ROM 14, and expands it in the print pattern memory 16 in a bit map form.

When the development of the print density pattern in the print pattern memory 16 is completed, the control unit 15 causes the print control unit 1 to operate.
Instruct 7 to print. In response to this instruction, the print control unit 1
The printer 7 sequentially reads out the print dot pattern data stored in the print pattern memory 16 and supplies it to the printer 18 for printing (step S7). As described above,
The captured image is printed as is.

On the other hand, when the gradation input is instructed from the key input unit 19, this instruction is detected in step S5, and the flow proceeds to step S8. In step S8, the control unit 15 sequentially reads the image data from the image memory 13, reads the print density pattern for gradation printing corresponding to the image data from the ROM 14, and expands it in the print pattern memory 16.

When the development of the print density pattern in the print pattern memory 16 is completed, the control unit 15 sets the image to 2 × 2.
It is doubled (step S9). When the enlargement process is completed, the control unit 15 masks the enlarged dots,
The row number and the column number of the pixel to be processed are initialized to "1" (step S10). Next, the row number and the column number of the pixel to be processed are determined (step S11), and if the pixel to be processed is an odd-numbered row odd-numbered column or an even-numbered row even-numbered column, an odd number of the print dot pattern after enlargement of that pixel The row and odd columns are masked (step S12), and if the pixel to be processed is the odd row and even column or the even row and odd column, the even row and even column of the enlarged print dot pattern of the corresponding pixel is masked (step S1).
3).

Next, it is judged whether or not the mask processing has been completed for all pixels (step S14), and if not completed, the pixel number is updated (step S15),
The process returns to step S11 to continue the mask processing.

When the mask processing is completed for all the pixels, the flow proceeds to step S7, and the print controller 17
The print dot pattern data stored in the print pattern memory 16 is sequentially read out and supplied to the printer 18 for printing. As described above, an arbitrary image can be converted into a blurred image and printed like a light background image.

In the above embodiment, the print dot pattern of the original image is expanded in the print pattern memory 16 at the time of blurring printing, and thereafter the enlargement process is executed. However, the print density pattern read from the ROM 14 is enlarged. The printed dot pattern may be expanded.

In the above embodiment, for the pixels in the odd-numbered rows and the odd-numbered columns and the pixels in the even-numbered rows and the even-numbered columns, the dot data in the odd-numbered rows and the odd-numbered columns are masked, and the pixels in the odd-numbered rows and the even-numbered columns and the pixels in the even-numbered rows and the odd-numbered columns are masked. For, the dot data of even rows and even columns was masked, but the mask position is arbitrary. For example, dot data of even-numbered rows and even-numbered columns is masked for pixels in odd-numbered rows and odd-numbered columns, and dot data of odd-numbered rows and odd-numbered columns is masked for pixels in even-numbered rows and even-numbered columns. The data may be masked. In addition, regardless of the position of the pixel, for example, the dot data in the odd-numbered odd-numbered columns or the even-numbered even-numbered columns may be masked. Further, in the above embodiment, both the row direction and the column direction are masked, but only the dot data in the row direction or the column direction may be masked.

In the above embodiment, an example in which the original image is enlarged twice in the vertical and horizontal directions is shown. However, for example, when the original image is enlarged in the vertical and horizontal directions by 3, 4, ... Applicable. For example, when the original image is enlarged three times vertically and horizontally, the print dot pattern of the original image shown in FIG. 5A is enlarged three times vertically and horizontally as shown in FIG. 5B, and then shown in FIG. So 3 rows x 3
2 rows × 2 columns of columns, or 3 as shown in FIG.
Mask 1 row x 1 column of the row x 3 columns. Only one of the rows or columns may be masked.

That is, when the original image is enlarged vertically and horizontally by n × m times, the dot data of p (0 <p <n) rows out of n rows of the print dot pattern of the enlarged image are masked,
And / or mask the dot data of q (0 <q <m) rows of the m columns.

(Second Embodiment) In the above embodiment, the print dot pattern data of all the pixels are masked when the gradation printing is instructed. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, as shown in FIG. It is also possible to add step S20 between steps S10 and S11 so that the masking process is performed only when the gradation is a predetermined value, for example, gradation 7 or more, as shown in FIG. Similarly, the masking process may be performed only when the gradation is equal to or lower than a predetermined value.

(Third Embodiment) In the above embodiment, the gradation of each pixel of the original image is set to 16 steps to 1
The corresponding one was selected from the six print density patterns, but in order to lower the gradation of the print image, for example, the gradation of each pixel is converted from 16 steps to 8 or 4 steps, and then the first You may perform the process similar to embodiment.

In this case, the control unit 15 reads the image data of each pixel stored in the image memory 13 when converting the image data into a print density pattern, and reads the read image data by ½ (1 bit LSB). Side) or 1/4 (shifted to the 2 bit LSB side) and then
Read the corresponding print density pattern from the ROM 14,
It is expanded in the print pattern memory 16. After that, the print dot pattern on the print pattern memory 16 is doubled vertically and horizontally, and an image obtained by appropriately masking is printed.

According to this method, for example, when the gradation of a pixel in the captured image is 7 (0111), this image data is shifted by 1 or 2 bits (0011).
Alternatively, it is converted to (0001). Next, the print density pattern 3 or pattern 1 corresponding to this gradation is selected and stored in the print pattern memory 16, this is enlarged, and the image obtained by masking is printed.

By using such a technique, an arbitrary image can be converted into a light and blurred image and printed.

(Fourth Embodiment) In the first to third embodiments, an example in which the original image is enlarged and then masked is shown. However, the original image may be masked without being enlarged. It is possible. In addition, an arbitrary pattern (mask pattern) for masking the original image is R
It is also possible to store it in the OM 14 or the like and mask it using this mask pattern. An example of the printing operation in these cases will be described. Considering the case where image data is stored in the image memory 13 as shown in FIG.
The print density pattern is developed in the print pattern memory 58 as shown in FIG.

Subsequently, the control unit 15 preliminarily sets the ROM 14
The mask pattern stored in the print pattern memory 16 is read out and the logical product of the print pattern developed in the print pattern memory 16 and this mask pattern is obtained. FIG. 8C shows an example of the mask pattern, and the black pattern has 4 × 4 dots and the white pattern has 2 × 4 dots, which are arranged in a matrix. When the print pattern is masked using such a mask pattern, the black dots of the print pattern corresponding to the white portions of the mask pattern are masked, and the print target image shown in FIG. 8D is obtained. The image to be printed is printed by the printer 18.

Even in such processing, the print pattern can be masked in a matrix to print an image with a slightly blurred impression. The sizes of the white pattern and the black pattern of the mask pattern, the storage destination of the mask pattern, and the like can be arbitrarily changed.

(Fifth Embodiment) In the first to fourth embodiments, one type of matrix pattern is used as a mask pattern for masking an original image.
A plurality of mask patterns may be prepared so that they can be arbitrarily selected and used. For example, FIG.
A plurality of types of mask patterns shown in (A) and (B) may be stored in the ROM 14, and an arbitrary mask pattern may be selected according to an instruction from the key input unit 19 to perform the mask processing.

10A to 10C show an example of mask processing using an elliptic mask. First, the image memory 13
The operation until the image data is captured in is the same as that in the first embodiment. Next, from the key input unit 19, as shown in FIG.
When the mask pattern shown in (B) is instructed and the gradation printing is instructed, the control unit 15 develops the gradation pattern corresponding to the image data stored in the image memory 13 on the print pattern memory 16 and outputs the original pattern. Form an image.
Then, the original image is masked with the designated mask pattern.

For example, the original image shown in FIG. 10A (the same as the original image shown in FIG. 8B) is formed in the print pattern memory 16, and the mask pattern shown in FIG. Assuming that the elliptical mask pattern shown in FIG. 10 is designated, when the mask processing is performed, as shown in FIG. 10C, the original image remains inside the ellipse of the mask pattern, but the white portion masks the original image. It By printing this, an image cut out in an elliptical shape can be printed.

By performing the masking process with the mask pattern shown in FIG. 9B, an original image can be cut out into an elliptical shape and a blurred image can be printed. Further, the mask processing may be executed a plurality of times using different masks. For example, after performing the masking process with the mask pattern for blurring shown in FIG. 8B, the masking process is performed with the mask pattern shown in FIG. It is also possible to print the image.

(Sixth Embodiment) In the first to fifth embodiments, the print density patterns for normal printing and gradation printing are stored in the ROM 14, but only the print density pattern for normal printing is stored. May be used. In this case, for example, the lower bits of the image data stored in the image memory 13, for example, the lower 1 bit or the lower 2 bits are masked, and the print density pattern for normal printing corresponding to the obtained image data is selected. It may be expanded on the print pattern memory 16. With such a configuration, it is possible to obtain the same effect as when using the density pattern for gradation printing by using only the print density pattern for normal printing.

In the first to sixth embodiments, the case where the print dot pattern is masked with "0" (white) is shown.
Alternatively or in combination with it, the print dot pattern may be masked with "1" (black) (black is printed in the portion of the mask pattern where black is present). By doing so, it is possible to convert the entire original image into an image with a deeply emphasized feeling and print it. Also,
The number of bits of the image data is not limited to 4 bits, but may be another number of bits such as 2 bits, 8 bits, 16 bits. Also, the print density pattern is not limited to 4 × 4 dots, and 6
× 6, 8 × 8 dots or the like may be used.

(Seventh Embodiment) In the above embodiment, the case of printing a gradation image of a single color has been described, but the present invention is also applicable to color printing. FIG. 11 shows a configuration that enables color printing.

In FIG. 11, an analog color video signal supplied from an image acquisition device 51 such as a video deck or an image reader is processed by an analog RG by a signal processing circuit 52.
It is converted into a B luminance signal and supplied to the 3-channel A / D converter 53. The 3-channel A / D converter 53 converts the supplied analog RGB luminance signal into digital RGB luminance data. The calculation circuit 54 performs a predetermined matrix calculation on the digital RGB luminance data supplied from the 3-channel A / D converter 53, and the Y used by the color printer 60.
It is converted into gradation data of ink colors such as (yellow), M (magenta), and C (cyan), and stored in the image memory 55.

The ROM 56 stores print density patterns for the respective densities of Y, M and C ink colors. The control unit 57 uses the Y color gradation data stored in the image memory 55 as
Similar to the first embodiment, the print density pattern corresponding to the gradation is sequentially read from the ROM 56 and stored in the print pattern memory 58.

When the storage of the print dot pattern of the Y-color image is completed, the print dot pattern is doubled vertically and horizontally as in the first embodiment, and mask processing is performed. When the mask processing is completed, the print controller 59 sequentially reads the dot data on the print pattern memory 58, supplies the dot data to the color printer 60, and prints using Y (yellow) color ink or toner.

Next, similar processing is executed for the M color density data stored in the image memory 55, and thereafter, similar processing is executed for the C color density data.

In the case of a line printer, such a process is repeated line by line to print a full-color image that is full-color and has a blurred appearance.

[0052]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to convert an arbitrary image into an image having a feeling of being totally blurred or emphasized, and to print the image. Can be improved. Further, since the desired image can be obtained by software-like data processing, the processing is simple.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a gradation of each pixel and a print density pattern for printing the pixel.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a blurring method used in the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure from image capturing to printing.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a modified example of the blurring method according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of gradation printing according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a procedure of gradation printing according to the second embodiment.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are diagrams for explaining a gradation printing procedure according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, where FIG. 8A is an example of image data and FIG. 8B is a gradation expanded in a print memory. An example of a pattern, (C) shows an example of a mask pattern, and (D) shows an example of a masked gradation pattern (print target image).

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining blurring printing according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention, in which (A) and (B) show examples of mask patterns.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the procedure of blurring printing according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention, where (A) is an example of an original image developed in a print memory and (B) is a mask pattern. 2C shows an example of a masked gradation pattern (print target image).

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printing device according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 ... Image acquisition device, 12 ... A / D converter, 13 ...
Image memory, 14 ... ROM, 15 ... Control unit, 16 ...
Print pattern memory, 17 ... Print control unit, 18 ... Printer, 19 ... Key input unit, 51 ... Image acquisition device, 52
... Signal processing circuit, 53 ... 3-channel A / D converter, 5
4 ... Arithmetic circuit, 55 ... Image memory, 56 ... ROM,
57 ... Control unit, 58 ... Print pattern memory, 59 ...
Print control unit, 60 ... Color printer

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Internal reference number FI Technical display location H04N 1/387 1/40 G06F 15/66 355 E H04N 1/40 A

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A storage unit for storing image data of an image composed of a plurality of pixels, and a plurality of floors according to the gradation of each pixel of the image defined by the image data stored in the storage unit. An image is composed of an allocating unit for allocating a print dot pattern predetermined for each key to each of the pixels, and a print dot pattern allocated by the allocating unit, the vertical length of the image is enlarged by n times, and the horizontal width is increased by m Enlarging means for enlarging, mask means for masking at least one of p rows for every n rows and q columns for every m columns of dots forming the image enlarged by the enlarging means, and after being masked by the mask means A printing unit configured to print an image formed of the print dot pattern of 1. 2. The image is composed of pixels of a plurality of colors, and the allocating means allocates to the pixels a print dot pattern determined according to the color and gradation of each pixel. The printing device described. 3. The same print dot pattern is assigned to different gradations.
Or the printing device according to 2. 4. The mask means masks at least one of the print dot patterns of the n-th row and the m-th column of the print dot patterns constituting the image enlarged by the enlarging means. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the gradation of the image is reduced. 5. The n and m are equal to each other, and the p and q are
5. The printing device according to claim 4, wherein and are equal to each other. 6. The mask means, according to the position of the image,
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print dot patterns are masked with different patterns. 7. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a storage unit that captures an image from the outside and stores image data of the captured image in the storage unit. 8. An image capturing unit that captures an image composed of a plurality of pixels, a gradation reducing unit that reduces the gradation of each pixel captured by the image capturing unit, and a gradation by the gradation reducing unit. According to the gradation of each pixel of the reduced image, an allocation unit for allocating a print dot pattern determined for each of a plurality of gradations to each pixel, and an image composed of the print dot pattern allocated by the allocation unit, or A printing apparatus comprising: a mask means for masking the print dot pattern of the enlarged image according to a predetermined mask pattern; and a printing means for printing the image masked by the mask means. 9. A storage unit for storing image data of an image composed of a plurality of pixels, and a plurality of floors according to the gradation of each pixel of the image defined by the image data stored in the storage unit. Allocation means for allocating a predetermined print dot pattern for each key to each of the pixels, and mask means for masking an image composed of the print dot pattern allocated by the allocating means according to a predetermined mask pattern, An output unit configured to output an image composed of the print dot pattern masked by the mask unit; 10. Allocation for allocating a predetermined print dot pattern for each of the plurality of gradations to each of the pixels according to the gradation of each pixel of the image defined by the image data stored in the storage means. Means, and an enlarging means for enlarging an image composed of the print dot pattern allocated by the allocating means, the mask means, the mask means, the image magnified by the enlarging means is predetermined. The printing apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising: masking according to a mask pattern. 11. The mask pattern comprises at least one of a mask for converting an image into a blurred feeling, a mask for cutting out an image into a predetermined shape, and a mask for converting an image into a blurred shape and cutting out into a predetermined shape. The printing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the printing apparatus is configured. 12. The printer according to claim 9, 10 or 11, wherein the mask pattern comprises a pattern for masking an image in a matrix.