The image processing device and the image formation device, image processing manner, on the basis of the dither matrix where relation between

摘要

PPROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress the consumption quantity of color material to be used for print processing, while maintaining gradation reproducibility. PSOLUTION: An image processing apparatus 10 includes a gradation reproduction processing section 19 and a mode switching section 31. The gradation reproduction processing section 19 outputs a dither image by applying multi-level dither processing to an input image while using a dither matrix 2. The mode switching section 31 switches a normal mode and a toner save mode. Furthermore, the gradation reproduction processing section 19 includes a threshold selector 52. In the case that a pixel of the dither image corresponding to a density adjustment position in the dither matrix 2 is defined as a specific pixel, the threshold selector 52 adjusts the number of gradations of the specific pixel and a gradation value indicative of a peak density in such a way that the specific pixel becomes multi-gradation even either under the normal mode or under the toner save mode, and the peak density of the specific pixel under the toner save mode is suppressed rather than under the normal mode. PCOPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT