Facsimile image-scaling and -smoothing method and apparatus are described. They scale a received facsimile image along a given axis to increase the printed image resolution therealong, while smoothing the scaled image to reduce visually objectionable ticks. They do so by analyzing received image data with respect to adjacent received lines having disparate pixel counts and by filling in pixels therebetween in accordance with predefined fill rules that are designed also to smooth the output image to be printed. Various predefined rules are applied to produce intermediate results some or all of which are comprehended by the scaling/smoothing algorithm to produce the final smoothed, scaled output pixel image. Preferably such analyzing and filling in accordance with such rules are performed by a hybrid hardware and firmware subsystem within a receiving facsimile machine or facsimile-receiving printer.