Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a failure prediction unit, an image identification unit, a simulated-image generating unit, and an output unit. The failure prediction unit prepares an index value indicating a condition of the image forming apparatus based on multidimensional signal, obtained by monitoring the image forming apparatus, and compares the index value with a first threshold value to predict a failure mode of the image forming apparatus. The image identification unit identifies types of abnormal images based on the failure mode predicted by the failure prediction unit. An identified abnormal image is predicted to be appear a given time later. The simulated-image generating unit generates a simulated image of the identified abnormal image. The output unit outputs the identified abnormal image as the simulated image.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium; a heating device that heats the image formed at the image forming unit, on the recording medium while recording medium is conveyed; a detecting device that is provided on a downstream side of the heating device in a recording medium conveying direction and detects image density and an image defect of the recording medium; and a stabilizing device that is provided between the detecting device and the heating device and stabilizes physical changes in the recording medium.

Abstract: A method for measuring Side 1 to Side 2 image on paper misregistration includes using a series of lines printed on both sides of a substrate, such as, paper. The paper is passed in front of an in-line spectrophotometer or densitometer. The amount of image “show through” is measured and correlated to an amount of misregistration.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a detection unit configured to irradiate a patch image formed on a recording material with light, and detect light intensities at a plurality of wavelengths in the light reflected from the patch image; and a determination unit configured to determine that a patch image for which the detection unit is detecting light intensities has transitioned from a first patch image to a second patch image, wherein the determination unit is further configured to determine that the patch image for which the detection unit is detecting has transitioned, in a case where a light intensity at a wavelength for identification of a patch image to be identified, has varied by an amount greater than a first threshold corresponding to that wavelength for identification.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus embeds second class data that is different from sheet to sheet in first class data that is common throughout a printing operation. First and second unfolding sections unfold the first and second class data to image data. An image carrying body image examination section compares image data unfolded by the second unfolding section and picked up image data unfolded by the first unfolding section and prepared by an image carrying body image pickup section, and an intermediate transfer body image examination section compares image data unfolded by the second unfolding section and picked up image data unfolded by the first unfolding section and prepared by an intermediate transfer body image pickup section.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing unit, a shearing unit, a detection unit, and a controller. The fixing unit fixes a toner image in place on a printed surface of a recording medium. The shearing unit is disposed downstream from the fixing unit along the media conveyance path to at least partially shear toner from the fixed toner image, so as to create a shorn image area that exhibits a different image density than that of an intact, unshorn image area on the printed surface of the recording medium. The detection unit is disposed at least partially downstream from the shearing unit along the media conveyance path to measure the image densities of the shorn and unshorn image areas. The controller is operatively connected to the fixing unit and the detection unit to adjust one or more operational parameters according to a difference between the measured image densities.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, which includes a plurality of image forming portions transferring a yellow image, a magenta image, a cyan image, and a black image formed on a plurality of photoconductor drums to a sheet conveyed on a conveying belt, a marking unit forming marks on the conveying belt, a detecting unit detecting the marks with three or more sensors aligned in a direction normal to a direction in which the sheet is conveyed, a calculating unit calculating an amount of color misalignment in accordance with results detected by the detecting unit, and a correcting unit correcting the color misalignment in accordance with the calculated amount of color misalignment, wherein the calculating unit calculates an amount of skew difference in accordance with results detected by two sensors among the three or more sensors, wherein one sensor of the two sensors is disposed on one end of the three or more sensors and the other sensor of the two sensors is disposed on the other end of the three or more sensors, w

Abstract: A method and system for compensating for an image quality defect in an image printing system comprising at least one marking station, the at least one marking station comprising a charging device for charging the image bearing surface, an exposing device for irradiating and discharging the image bearing surface to form a latent image, a developer unit for developing toner to the image bearing surface, and a transfer unit for transferring toner from the image bearing surface to an image accumulation surface is provided. The method includes sensing the image quality defect on an image bearing surface by an electrostatic voltmeter (ESV) in the image printing system and determining the frequency, amplitude, and/or phase of the image quality defect by a processor. In one embodiment, the method includes compensating for the image quality defect by modulating the power of an exposing device during an expose process.

Abstract: An apparatus to control color registration and image density and a method of calculating color registration error. The apparatus includes registration marks formed on a transfer belt such that each of the registration marks includes a scan direction component and a slanting direction component at an angle with respect to both the scan direction and the cross-scan direction. The apparatus further includes image density marks formed on the transfer belt, having predetermined image densities, and a registration and image density sensor provided above the registration marks and the image density marks to radiate beams onto the registration marks and the image density marks. The sensor receives beams reflected from the registration marks and the image density marks to produce detection signals, and obtains registration information and image density information from the detection signals. Accordingly, X-offset, Y-offset, printing width error, and skew can be simultaneously compensated for using a single apparatus.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus capable of determining a height of a toner image formed on an image bearing member with high accuracy includes detecting a two-dimensional reflection image corresponding to a reflection image of a beam from the toner image formed on the image bearing member, identifying a representative position based on the detected two-dimensional reflection image, and determining the height of the toner image based on the identified representative position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a replaceable image formation unit. The image forming apparatus includes an input device for inputting a signal representing occurrence of abnormality in one of an output image and the image forming apparatus recognized by an operator, a unit specifying device for specifying an image formation unit to be replaced for resolving the abnormality upon receiving the signal, and a notification device for notifying information related to the replacement unit based on the unit specification result.

Abstract: A diagnostic system made part of or for use with a document handling device in which a customer is guided toward performance of at least one comparison means in a diagnostic routine analysis. The comparison means is selected from a group comprising (1) a first comparison comparing a fused print media and an unfused print media for presence of a defect, (2) a second comparison comparing an output print media and at least one image on a screen for a type of defect, and (3) a third comparison comparing a low-charged print media and a no-charged print media for qualities of the defect. The customer enters a selection based on results of the first, the second, or the third comparisons. The diagnostic system can identify a part causing a defect in the print media based on results of the comparisons.

Abstract: A printing apparatus, method and storage medium therefor for executing trial printings. The apparatus includes a printing unit, a setting unit, an inputting unit, and first and second controlling and accepting units. The first controlling unit controls to execute first trial printing according to inputted image data and a set printing condition. The first accepting unit can accept a changing instruction for changing the printing condition. The second accepting unit can accept an execution instruction for executing a second trial printing. The second controlling unit controls to execute the second trial printing according to the inputted image data and the changed printing condition. When the first accepting unit accepts a changing instruction, the second accepting unit can accept an executing instruction. When the first accepting unit does not accept a changing instruction, the second accepting unit cannot accept an executing instruction.

Abstract: A detection apparatus includes a transmission member that is provided facing a conveying path on which a medium is conveyed and that transmits light from the medium being conveyed on the conveying path; a detection section that detects the medium or an image on the medium according to the light which is transmitted by the transmission member, wherein the light is received by a light-receiving member of the detection section; and an opposing member provided on an opposite side of the conveying path from the transmission member and having at least one opposing surface that faces the transmission member. In a conveying direction of the medium, a length of the opposing surface is shorter than a length of a detection surface.

Abstract: An image processing device is configured to provide a service relating to at least one of (1) the image data generated by the function of the image processing device and (2) image data representing the image to be formed, in response to a request from the image processing device. The image processing device may include a parameter designating unit, a service request unit, and a function implementation unit that is adapted to implement the function of the image processing device based on the service providing parameter designated by the parameter designating unit. The service providing device is provided with a service provision executing unit that is adapted to execute a process to provide the service to the image processing device after receiving the request from the service request unit provided to the image processing device.

Abstract: A sensing device including: a sensing section having an illuminating section that illuminates light and a light-receiving section that receives reflected light of light illuminated from the illuminating section, the sensing section sensing an image on a recording medium; a housing that accommodates the illuminating section; a covering member covering the housing, that is freely installed at and removed from the housing, having a transmitting member through which the light from the illuminating section is transmitted; and a setting section disposed at an opposite side to a housing side with respect to the covering member, the setting section being freely installed at and removed from the housing, and having a setting surface that sets a position at which the recording medium reflects light, wherein, at a positioning portion of the setting section, the covering member is positioned at least in a direction perpendicular to the setting surface, is provided.

Abstract: A detecting apparatus includes: a transmission member that is provided facing a conveying path on which a medium is conveyed and that transmits light from the medium being conveyed on the conveying path; a detecting section that detects the medium or an image on the medium from the light which is transmitted through the transmission member, wherein the light is received by a light-receiving member of the detection section; an opposing member that is provided on an opposite side of the conveying path from the transmission member and has at least a first opposing surface that faces the transmission member; and a guide member provided at a downstream side of the opposing member in the conveying direction, and guides the medium downstream in the conveying path. The opposing surface is closer to the detecting section at a downstream side than at an upstream side thereof in the conveying direction.

Abstract: A device and a method for improving the quality of prints using a printing device and system for carrying out a print job with a digital printing machine, preferably with a printing machine that works with a toner, in particular with an electrophotographically operating printing machine, whereby the sheets (1) are preferably printed by recto-printing and verso-printing, whereby the sheets (1) to be printed are divided into batches, and whereby, in the case of batches that are incompletely occupied with sheets (1), the slots of the missing sheets are replaced by an approximately sheet-sized toner field (3) on the transport belt (4) for the sheets.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus that can be connected to an image-forming apparatus, a method, and a program used for the information processing apparatus are disclosed. The information processing apparatus comprises a control unit for controlling print-setting information set for document data to be printed, a recognition unit for recognizing information about a first function specified by the print-setting information by translating the print-setting information controlled by the control unit, an obtaining unit for obtaining information about a second function of the image-forming apparatus connected to the information processing apparatus, a determination unit for determining whether or not the image-forming apparatus can perform the first function recognized by the recognition unit based on the second-function information obtained by the obtaining unit, and a modification unit for modifying the print-setting information controlled by the control unit based on the determination result.

Abstract: A diagnostic method for color stability in an image printing system includes printing a test pattern onto output media; measuring, during the printing of the test pattern, an image of the test pattern on an image transfer surface using one or more image transfer surface sensors to obtain one or more image transfer surface signals; measuring a printed image of the test pattern on the output media using a printed image sensor to obtain a printed image signal; calculating correlation functions for the one or more image transfer surface signals and the printed image signal; and analyzing the correlation functions for the one or more image transfer surface signals and the printed image signal to identify a subsystem in the image printing system that causes variations in color within the plurality of prints of the test pattern.

Abstract: Provided are a method, system and program for checking and conditional processing of a print job printed with multiple transfer media. A print job indicates first print content to print using a first transfer medium and second print content to print using a second transfer medium. The first print content is printed onto a print medium with the first transfer medium. The printed first print content is read to determine whether the printed first print content satisfies a quality requirement. The second print content is printed onto the print medium with the second transfer medium in response to determining that the quality requirement is satisfied. Information is printed indicating an error on the print medium in response to determining that the print quality requirement is not satisfied.

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide an image forming apparatus and the like that perform a highly-accurate tone correction in a relatively short time and includes the following: a pattern former, with use of each image forming unit, on a sheet, forming tone patches in the main or sub scanning direction (41k,c,y,m) and aligning markers, which indicate positions of the tone patches, in the same direction as the tone patches (42k,c,y,m); a pattern reader reading the sheet with the tone patches and markers formed thereon; a coordinate determiner determining coordinates of the tone patches in the direction of the aligned tone patches based on the read markers (42k,c,y,m); a density determiner determining densities of the tone patches (41k,c,y,m) read based on the determined coordinates; and an updating part updating the tone correction table based on relationships between the determined densities and tone levels.

Abstract: An abnormality detecting method and an image processing method for an image processor is provided. The image processor can easily detect an abnormal rotation of a photosensitive drum without having a special detecting means but using an existing sensor, and keeps image data until a normal toner image is transferred and fine printing is carried out. The image processor forms a toner image corresponding to image data on a plurality of photosensitive drums, and detects the position of the toner image at a given part on a transfer object, to which given part the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum is transferred, to detect a rotation failure of the photosensitive drum. When a rotation failure is detected, the image processor keeps input image data without deleting even after the end of image formation.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus forms a pattern image on a first printing medium and creates a first image processing condition for adjusting a tone characteristic based on a first luminance value. When performing the calibration using a second printing medium different from the first printing medium, the apparatus corrects, based on a luminance value of a background region of the second printing medium, a second luminance value output in accordance with light reflected by the second printing medium, and creates the first image processing condition based on the corrected second luminance value.

Abstract: An image output apparatus includes: an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium; a test-threshold acquiring unit that acquires a test threshold that is a pass-fail criterion for the image test for determining whether the test image data passes or fails the image test; a changing unit that changes a density detection mode of at least one of the image forming unit and the image reading apparatus on the basis of the test threshold; a density correcting unit that corrects density used in an image forming process performed by the image forming unit; and a reference-image-data acquiring unit that acquires the reference image data.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes a CPU that performs control to form an inspection image for determining whether or not banding is suppressed to be smaller than a predetermined threshold value; and a density sensor that detects an intensity of banding periodically occurring in a sub-scanning direction of the formed inspection image. If based the detected banding intensity, the CPU has determined that the banding is not suppressed to be smaller than the predetermined threshold value, the CPU performs control to not perform banding correction or performs control to re-set a relationship between a phase of a rotary member and correction information.

Abstract: Methods and systems herein provide for calibration of a production printing system that accommodates a plurality of different print paper types, including new paper types with no ICC profiles or optical density curves on file. One exemplary method includes printing test patches of primary colors on a first print medium, measuring colors of the test patches printed on the first print medium to determine an optical density of the first print medium, and comparing the optical density of the first print medium to a plurality of optical density curves to identify a comparable optical density curve of a different print medium. The comparable optical density curve is one of a plurality of optical density curves installed on the production printing system. The method further includes automatically selecting the comparable optical density curve to calibrate the production printing system to the different print medium for use in printing to the first print medium.

Abstract: A color image forming apparatus includes a density sensor which detects the light reflecting characteristics of an unfixed toner image formed on an image carrier or a transfer material carrier, and a color sensor which detects the light reflecting characteristics of the fixed toner image formed on a transfer material. A test image is formed on the transfer material in accordance with the detection result of the density sensor, and a density control process of controlling image forming conditions is controlled to be executed in accordance with a detection result of detecting the test image by the color sensor.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a paper-type detecting unit that detects a paper type of a sheet to be printed, a fixing unit that sets fixing temperature on the basis of the paper type detected by the paper-type detecting unit and fixes a toner image on the sheet, and a fixing-temperature changing unit that changes the fixing temperature of the fixing unit to high temperature when a printed image fixed by the fixing unit is an image that fades or is matte compared with fixing temperature for an image that is rough or is glossy.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which eliminates the necessity of carrying out wasteful operations such as retry of a job and therefore improves work efficiency. A print job is carried out to thereby form an image on a recording sheet. When an image abnormality formed on the recording sheet is detected, a controller temporarily suspends the print job. An operating unit displays a screen for prompting a user to input an instruction as to whether to continue the print job. The controller determines whether to continue the print job based on the instruction input by the user.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for performing color registration on template media having template markings thereon.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus executes banding correction at a level determined according to variation of the density characteristic of the image forming apparatus to achieve a high quality image. In the image forming apparatus, a banding correction unit acquires information about a cause of density variation that may occur in a sub scanning direction of a rotation member, which is used for forming a toner image on an image carrier based on input image information and sets, based on the acquired information, the level of the density correction, which is determined according to the density variation cause information.

Abstract: A setting acceptor is operable to accept printing settings for a current printing job, including a setting of a first printing condition involving a confirmation print to print a copy set of sorted pages before a temporary pause waiting for a continuation instruction to print a designated number of copy sets, and a setting of a second printing condition involving a sorting print to print the designated number of copy sets of sorted pages, and a controller stores a last stack position in a previous printing job, as a first stack position, and is operable, as the printing settings accepted includes the setting of the first printing condition and the setting of the second printing condition, to discharge sheets in the confirmation print to a second stack position offset from the first stack position, and after the continuation instruction, discharge sheets of the designated number of copy sets in the sorting print to an alternating stack position alternating every copy set between the first and second stack posi

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming section which forms normal images on sheets sequentially based on normal image data and forms sample images on sheets based on sample image data; a discharge section which discharges normal image sheets in a stack which are sheets on which the normal images were formed and sample image sheets which are sheets on which the sample images were formed; and a control section which is configured to control at least one of the image forming section and the discharge section to discharge the normal image sheets in the stack and the sample image sheets to the discharge section so as to enable timings at which the sample image sheets were discharged to be appreciated in the stacked normal image sheets.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a patch-image generating unit that generates a patch image for measuring a color reproduction characteristic and correcting color, the patch image in which mixed-color patch sets each including a plurality of patches each formed by overlaying a plurality of color materials are arranged so that patches having the same color and the same tone value included in the mixed-color patch sets are arranged to be kept at a distance in a circumferential direction of a photosensitive element and a distance between same tone patches, which are two patches having the same color and the same tone value, is close to (N+½) times the length of a period of uneven density which periodically occurs in the circumferential direction of the photosensitive element (N is an integer of 0 or greater); and an image forming unit that forms the generated patch image on a recording medium.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: an image forming section; and a control section allowing the image forming section to form a belt-shaped pattern on sheets in such a way that a formation starting position of the belt-shaped pattern is shifted for a distance, obtained by dividing a measurement-distance by a number of sheets to be used, in a main-scanning direction sheet by sheet; collecting, sheet by sheet, pieces of density information each of which indicates the density of the belt-shaped pattern at a measurement position of measurement positions; creating data in which the pieces of density information respectively correspond to the measurement positions arranged in the main-scanning direction on each of the sheets; and correcting density unevenness of image data in the main-scanning direction based on the created data, wherein the image forming section forms an image based on the image data of which the density unevenness is corrected.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: an image forming section which forms a belt-shaped pattern having a specific gradation and a prescribed length extending in a main-scanning direction; and a control section which receives pieces of density information each of which indicates a density of the belt-shaped pattern at a measurement position of measurement positions; detects a minimum density from the pieces of density information; sets the minimum density as a target density; identifies a first error between the target density and each of densities respectively indicated by the pieces of density information; sets a gradation correction amount at each of the measurement positions, respectively corresponding to the pieces of density information, based on the respective first errors; and corrects a gradation of image data based on the gradation correction amounts, wherein the image forming section forms an image based on the image data of which the gradation is corrected.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus uses the difference in time taken for each patch to reach a color sensor, which occurs upon reversing the conveyance direction of a printing material. Due to this difference in time, the temperature of the printing material in detection by the color sensor differs among the respective patches. The error of a colorimetric value due to thermochromism is reduced by placing a patch with a colorimetric value which has a low temperature dependence so as to be detected earlier, and a patch with a colorimetric value which has a high temperature dependence so as to be detected later.

Abstract: When an input image is to be formed on a sheet conveyed to a transfer roller, the exposure section is controlled and deviation correction is performed to offset the image forming position across the width of the sheet in response to the result of detection by a deviation sensor. By contrast, when pattern images are to be formed on a sheet in response to the instruction of the main control section, the image forming control section does not perform deviation correction in the process of forming a pattern image.

Abstract: A printing apparatus, printing method and storage medium therefor for executing a plurality of trial printings. The apparatus includes a printing unit, a setting unit to set a printing condition, an inputting unit to input image data, first and second controlling units, and first and second accepting units. The first controlling unit controls the printing unit to execute first trial printing according to the inputted image data and the set printing condition. The first accepting unit accepts a changing instruction for changing the printing condition. The second accepting unit accepts an execution instruction for executing a second trial printing, and the second controlling unit controls the printing unit to execute the second trial printing according to the inputted image data and the changed printing condition. In a case where the first accepting unit does not accept the changing instruction, the second accepting unit cannot accept the executing instruction.

Abstract: If a print misregistration amount on a sheet is larger than a predetermined threshold before determining whether a printed image is appropriate or not, an abnormal status of the image printed on the sheet is detected without correcting image data for inspection. A control method for controlling a detecting apparatus for inspecting a print status of an image printed on a sheet by a printing apparatus includes detecting, in a case where it is determined that a print misregistration amount of the image printed on the sheet with respect to the sheet is larger than a predetermined threshold, an abnormality of the print status of the image read by a reading unit without performing correction.

Abstract: A measurement module for a printer generally includes a page diverter mechanism configured to selectively divert a sheet of media from a main media path to a module media path; a rotating drum configured to receive the media from the module media path and to affix the media on an outer surface of the drum; a measuring device spaced adjacent to the drum and configured to measure as aspect of the media affixed to the surface of the drum; and a sheet transport configured to remove the media from the drum. According to one embodiment, the module may include a drum with an electrostatic hold-down mechanism that captures a sheet and an axially translating measuring device that is configured to read the entire surface as the drum rotates. The measurement module also allows the printed media to cool to eliminate problems with color measurements due to thermo chromaticity.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for discriminating the type of recording material. The apparatus comprises a component irradiating a piece of recording material with light, a sensor picking up an image of the recording material surface by receiving light reflecting off the recording material, a component converting the picked-up image into image data having a plurality of pixels arranged in a predetermined direction and a calculation component integrating the respective density difference values between a first pixel and a second pixel of the plurality of pixels. The apparatus discriminates the type of recording material based on the integrated value of the density values calculated by the calculation component. Furthermore, the present invention provides an apparatus for setting image formation requirements of an image formation component based on the integrated value of the respective density difference values between a first pixel and a second pixel of pixels.

Abstract: A toner-image detecting sensor for detecting a toner image before being transferred onto a recording sheet and a fixed-image detecting sensor for detecting the toner image after being secondarily transferred and fixed on the recording sheet are arranged so that the positions of them in a main scanning corresponding direction are aligned. An image forming apparatus has a first image adjustment mode and a second image adjustment mode. In the first image adjustment mode, image adjustment is made on the basis of only a result of detection by the toner-image detecting sensor without transferring the test pattern onto the recording sheet. In the second image adjustment mode, the test pattern is transferred onto the recording sheet, and image adjustment is made on the basis of both a result of detection by the toner-image detecting sensor and a result of detection by the fixed-image detecting sensor.

Abstract: A management label has a color loss determination area that enables easy determination of color loss. An identification color printing area 11 where an inventory control color for managing products and a color loss determination area 15 for determining color loss are printed on the label side 10a of an inventory management label 10. The color loss determination area 15 contains a color loss determination section 18 including the letters “NG” printed with a black coloring agent, and a background portion 19 that is printed using cyan, magenta, and yellow coloring agents. When there is no color loss and the letters “NG” and background portion 19 are printed normally, the letters “NG” and background portion 19 are both gray and the “NG” letters cannot be read. If one of the colors is lost, the printed colors change, the letters “NG” become discernable, and color loss can be easily determined.

Abstract: A technique that can contribute to improvement of analysis accuracy in analysis processing concerning an image forming apparatus is provided. An image forming apparatus that forms, on a sheet, a test pattern formed by a color obtained by mixing toners of plural colors, scans a test pattern image formed on the sheet with a color sensor, and performs predetermined image quality control processing on the basis of information scanned, the image forming apparatus including an analysis-information forming unit that forms predetermined information used for an analysis concerning the image forming apparatus on a sheet.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided which, upon receipt of an instruction to perform proof copying in a proof copy mode, stores a numeral value showing the number of times the instruction is made. The performing of the proof copying is restricted based on the numeral value showing the number of times stored and a numeral value showing a pre-set value for allowing the performing of the proof copying.

Abstract: The presence/absence of a printing failure on a printed product is accurately detected to prevent a defective product from mixing in printed products to be delivered to a customer. In order to achieve this object, a printing processing method according to this invention includes steps of inputting first image data, executing the printing process for a printing medium based on the first image data, reading the printing medium on which the first image data is printed to obtain second image data, specifying a determination area to be used to determine the presence/absence of a printing failure in the second image data based on a processing content after the printing process for the printing medium, and determining the presence/absence of the printing failure by comparing the first image data and the second image data corresponding to the determination area.

Abstract: A test pattern image stored in advance is printed on a paper sheet. When the printed test pattern image is scanned by a scanning unit, a difference between the density of the scanned test pattern image and absolute density set in advance is detected. An exposure amount of a process unit is adjusted according to the detected density difference.

Abstract: An image of stabilized tint is output even if a supplied transfer medium is changed to a transfer medium of a different surface gloss or type of paper. If the supplied transfer medium has changed, the tint of a corrective image formed on the transfer medium is sensed, a tint correction of an image forming portion is performed based upon result of sensing, and corrective data of the tint correction and information relating to the transfer medium is stored. If a change of the transfer medium is sensed subsequently, a determination is made as to whether the transfer medium is substantially the same transfer medium, based upon the stored information relating to the transfer medium. If the transfer medium is substantially the same, then image processing is executed based upon the stored corrective data.