A medium is carried to a predetermined position in a carrying direction. A first pattern is formed on the medium with nozzles on the carrying direction upstream side of a nozzle row constituted by a plurality of nozzles lined up at predetermined intervals. After forming the first pattern, the medium is carried in the carrying direction by a target carry amount that is shorter than the length in the carrying direction of the nozzle row. Along with forming on the medium a second pattern that forms a boundary with the first pattern with nozzles on the carrying direction downstream side of the nozzle row, a third pattern is formed on the medium with the nozzles on the carrying direction upstream side of the nozzle row. After forming the second pattern, the medium is carried in the carrying direction by a target carry amount that is shorter than the length in the carrying direction of the nozzle row so that a carry amount of the medium after forming the first pattern is longer than the length in the carrying direction of the nozzle row. A fourth pattern that forms a boundary with the third pattern is formed on the medium with the nozzles on the carrying direction downstream side of the nozzle row.