It is an object of the present invention to output a clear, expanded image
wherein step-shapes or chain-shapes of oblique lines are reduced,
distortion is eliminated and no constituent lines of fonts or graphics
are missing. An image transform method, for transforming original input
image data into image data expanded by a ratio represented by a rational
number or an integer, comprises: a vertical and horizontal interpolation
unit, for reducing correlation in the vertical and horizontal directions
of interpolated image data linearly expanded from an original image data
input unit, and for generating first expanded image data; an oblique
interpolation unit, for performing linear interpolation, based on
correlation with a target pixel constituting the original image data and
neighboring pixels arranged in oblique directions, using the neighboring
pixels to generate second expanded image data; and a final result
generator for employing the first expanded image data and the second
expanded image data to generate a final image.