Abstract: A method for generating a low-resolution gray-scale pattern representing a high-resolution original character image. A sampling pattern is generated having plural sampling windows arranged in columns and rows, the number of columns and rows being determined by the resolution of the gray-scale pattern. The sampling pattern is sequentially positioned at plural positions separated by a predetermined distance along a column direction and a row direction on the original character image to count, at each position, the total number of black pels in predetermined portions of the rows of the sampling pattern and the total number of black pels in predetermined portions of the columns of the sampling pattern. The total number of black pels counted at each of the positions is compared to detect a position at which the largest total number of black pels in the column is detected and at which the largest total number of black pels in the row portions is detected.