Image printing apparatus and color misregistration correction method

Abstract

This invention is directed to an image printing apparatus which prints a color image by superimposing a plurality of images of different colors and a color misregistration correction method for the apparatus. In order to shorten the time required for color misregistration correcting operation, the image printing apparatus of this invention includes a controller which controls color misregistration correcting devices. The controller repeatedly prints color registration marks on an intermediate transfer belt, derives a positional offset correction amount for images of the respective colors on the basis of the positional relationship between the registration marks detected by registration sensors, and corrects the printing position of an image of each color on the basis of the positional offset correction amount. In this case, while the derived positional offset correction amount has not reached a predetermined target range, positional offset correction is performed on a pixel basis. When the positional offset correction amount has reached the target range, positional offset correction including a correction amount less than the pixel unit is executed.