Abstract: There are provided an ink jet printing apparatus, an image reading apparatus, an ink jet printing method and an image reading method capable of saving electric power, reducing noise and improving the reliability by specifying a timing of the adjustment of a paper gap. To achieve the object, in a printing mode for printing an image on a print medium, a function for adjusting a gap between a print head and a print medium is limited during the non-printing motion in which no ink is ejected from the print head. Also, in a reading mode for reading an image printed on a print medium, a function for adjusting a gap between a scanner and a print medium is limited during the non-reading motion in which the scanner does not read the image.