Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a sensor, a notification unit, and a controller. The sensor detects a supply-end condition of consumable supplies. The notification unit notifies a message based on the supply-end condition detected by the sensor, and provides an operation key used for setting a condition for the image forming apparatus. The notification unit includes a print-stop setting and a print-continue setting, settable for a consumable supply and used when a printing operation is suspended due to an occurrence of the supply-end condition. The controller suspends the printing operation based on the print-stop setting and continues the suspended printing operation based on the print-continue setting.

Abstract: In an image formation apparatus, a compressor image compresses bitmap data obtained by bitmapping image data to be output to generate compressed data. A white plane deciding section compares a size of the compressed data generated by the compressor with a size of compressed data of image data in a blank state, and decides that an output of the image data is in the blank state when both sizes coincide with each other. A task scheduler changes the priority order of tasks based on a result of the decision.

Abstract: The color toner application level is flexibly adjusted to save the toner consumption by lowering the developing bias voltage value while color balance is maintained by adjusting gamma characteristics. The toner save mode is invoked based upon the detection of substantially unequal toner consumption among color components.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus with a scanner and a method of controlling it are disclosed. Different kinds of images are combined by a simple and rapid procedure. When the scanner is connected to the apparatus, various kinds of functions available are used in an easy-to-understand and convenient way. Also disclosed are a printer with a scanner which can be readily loaded with handwritten characters, types, letterings and so forth to convert them to a font. Further, the image forming apparatus with a scanner, the method of controlling it, and the printer with a scanner are capable of easily filling a document to be prepared by the operator with a desired fill pattern, e.g., a handwritten pattern.