Abstract: On a touch-panel display of an image forming apparatus, a function selecting area and a preview area are displayed next to each other. On the function selecting area, a function setting menu is displayed in one display mode among an icon mode in which only a group of icons are displayed, a regular mode in which a group of icons and a group of texts are displayed, and an express mode in which a group of icons, a group of texts and a group of function setting buttons are displayed. In the icon mode, detailed preview information is displayed on a large preview area, and in the express mode, detailed function selecting information is displayed on a large function selecting area.

Abstract: On a touch-panel display of an image forming apparatus, a function selecting area and a preview area are displayed next to each other. On the function selecting area, a function setting menu is displayed in one display mode among an icon mode in which only a group of icons are displayed, a regular mode in which a group of icons and a group of texts are displayed, and an express mode in which a group of icons, a group of texts and a group of function setting buttons are displayed. In the icon mode, detailed preview information is displayed on a large preview area, and in the express mode, detailed function selecting information is displayed on a large function selecting area.

Abstract: The image processing apparatus is provided with a preview image generating portion for generating a preview image of image data to be output in the unit of an output job, and an image display portion such as a touch panel for displaying the generated preview image. The image display portion displays a generation stop key for stopping generation of the preview image during the generation of the preview image so as to be selectable by a user, and displays a different screen in accordance with a generation state of the preview image when the generation stop key is selected by a user operation.

Abstract: An MFP is connected with an administrator PC having a printer driver installed thereon through a network to be controlled by the printer driver. The MFP is provided with an image reading portion for optically reading predetermined printed matter to input image data, a printing set value judging portion for judging printing set values when printed matter is printed from input image data, and an initial set value input portion for inputting the judged printing set values as initial set values of a printer driver. The initial set value input portion set printing set values obtained by reading printed matter on an initial set value input screen of a printer driver as the initial set values of the printer driver, and initial set values set to the initial set value input screen are changeable by a user.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit forming an image on a medium based on image data; a first storage storing image forming conditions; an input device storing image forming conditions set by a user input setting the image forming conditions in the first storage; a second storage storing a history of input operations by the user; a registering device registering, if the history stored in the second storage satisfies a predetermined condition, the image forming conditions stored in the first storage as image forming conditions that can be called by a unique identifier; and a calling device, responsive to a user input designating an identifier, the corresponding image forming conditions from the registering device and storing in the first storage.

Abstract: An energy saving setting unit controls an image forming apparatus that makes a transition to a power saving state if a transition time passes without any prescribed operation in a normal state, and it includes: a unit for storing specific day information distinguishing a normal operation day and a specific day; an auto pattern updating unit determining the transition time in a normal operation day based on past operational status of the normal operation day of the image forming apparatus; a specific day pattern registering unit receiving and storing setting of the transition time of the specific day; and a switching unit, switching the state of conduction of the image forming apparatus using the transition time determined by the auto pattern updating unit and the stored transition time, on the normal operation day and on the specific day, respectively, based on the specific day information.

Abstract: On a touch-panel display of an image forming apparatus, a function selecting area and a preview area are displayed next to each other. On the function selecting area, a function setting menu is displayed in one display mode among an icon mode in which only a group of icons are displayed, a regular mode in which a group of icons and a group of texts are displayed, and an express mode in which a group of icons, a group of texts and a group of function setting buttons are displayed. In the icon mode, detailed preview information is displayed on a large preview area, and in the express mode, detailed function selecting information is displayed on a large function selecting area.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit forming an image on a medium based on image data; a first storage storing image forming conditions; an input device storing image forming conditions set by a user input setting the image forming conditions in the first storage; a second storage storing a history of input operations by the user; a registering device registering, if the history stored in the second storage satisfies a predetermined condition, the image forming conditions stored in the first storage as image forming conditions that can be called by a unique identifier; and a calling device, responsive to a user input designating an identifier, the corresponding image forming conditions from the registering device and storing in the first storage.

Abstract: An MFP is connected with an administrator PC having a printer driver installed thereon through a network to be controlled by the printer driver. The MFP is provided with an image reading portion for optically reading predetermined printed matter to input image data, a printing set value judging portion for judging printing set values when printed matter is printed from input image data, and an initial set value input portion for inputting the judged printing set values as initial set values of a printer driver. The initial set value input portion set printing set values obtained by reading printed matter on an initial set value input screen of a printer driver as the initial set values of the printer driver, and initial set values set to the initial set value input screen are changeable by a user.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus which makes input of an initial setting value of driver software such as a printer driver easier and capable of preventing erroneous input. A MFP is connected through a network to an administrator PC in which driver software is installed, and controlled by the driver software. The MFP includes an initial setting value input portion for inputting an initial setting value of the driver software and a setting value table that stores a setting value of an image forming function included in the MFP. The initial setting value input portion sets the setting value stored in the setting value table on an initial setting value input screen of the driver software as the initial setting value of the driver software so that a user can change the initial setting value set on the initial setting value input screen.

Abstract: The image processing apparatus is provided with a preview image generating portion for generating a preview image of image data to be output in the unit of an output job, and an image display portion such as a touch panel for displaying the generated preview image. The image display portion displays a generation stop key for stopping generation of the preview image during the generation of the preview image so as to be selectable by a user, and displays a different screen in accordance with a generation state of the preview image when the generation stop key is selected by a user operation.

Abstract: A reading/writing process control unit for instructing a reading/writing process and an erasing process control unit for instructing an erasing process are provided separately and each is connected with two HDDs via a switch. While the reading/writing process control unit is connected with one HDD and executing a reading/writing process, a switch is controlled to connect the erasing process control unit with another HDD to erase data of the HDD connected with the erasing process control unit. Since it is enabled to execute a data reading/writing process and a data erasing process for a storage device in parallel for different HDDs, lowering of the access rate as a whole can be prevented.

Abstract: As for read-out image data of a manuscript, image regions not requiring color output are specified as specified regions 1 and 2. Then, it is determined whether the color information of the pixels of the read-out image data outside the specified regions 1 and 2 is achromatic. When it is determined as achromatic, the read-out manuscript is determined as a monochrome manuscript, so that processed image data in which chromatic pixels of the read-out image data in the specified regions 1 and 2 are converted into achromatic pixels is outputted as achromatic (monochrome) data. On the other hand, when it is determined as not achromatic, the read-out manuscript is determined as a color manuscript, so that the read-out image data is outputted intact as chromatic (color) data.

Abstract: A reading/writing process control unit for instructing a reading/writing process and an erasing process control unit for instructing an erasing process are provided separately and each is connected with two HDDs via a switch. While the reading/writing process control unit is connected with one HDD and executing a reading/writing process, a switch is controlled to connect the erasing process control unit with another HDD to erase data of the HDD connected with the erasing process control unit. Since it is enabled to execute a data reading/writing process and a data erasing process for a storage device in parallel for different HDDs, lowering of the access rate as a whole can be prevented.