To generate a dot pattern whose deterioration of a feeling of granularity, density unevenness, and streaks are unlikely to be recognized visually by more effectively suppressing a change of an overlap of ink droplets on a printing medium. Halftone image data representing a dot pattern of each of two or more kinds of dot different in density reproduction is acquired. Then, in a case where there is a possibility that the contact state between dots changes due to a landed-dot shift of ink in a plurality of specific dots on a condition that dots are formed in accordance with a dot pattern in the halftone image data, the plurality of specific dots is replaced with dots of another kind whose number is less than or equal to that of the plurality of specific dots.