Abstract: A powder storage height detection device includes: a main body that includes a transport path along which powder is transported; a powder transport unit that is disposed to rotate in the transport path and includes a transporter provided spirally around a rotational shaft; a swinging unit that comes into contact with a surface of the powder transported in the transport path, and swings by following at least a storage height of the surface; a detection unit that detects a state of swinging of the swinging unit; and a determination unit that determines presence or absence of the powder based on a detection signal outputted from the detection unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing roller configured to develop an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive drum to form a toner image; a belt onto which the toner image is transferred; a detection unit configured to detect a density of an image for detection formed on the belt; and a controller configured to perform hue adjustment based on a detection result of the detection unit. The image forming apparatus performs image formation in a second mode using a color gamut different from a color gamut in a first mode, and the controller obtains a lookup table, which indicates a correlation between image data to be used and input image data in the second mode, based on the detection result in the first mode and a correlation of density between the first mode and the second mode.

Abstract: An image formation device includes: an image formation section configured to develop, using toner, an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrier based on job image information, thereby transferring a first image onto continuous paper; a hardware processor configured to determine whether or not a serial printing distance is equal to or shorter than a first threshold, wherein the serial printing distance is a distance at which the first image is printed on the continuous paper, and control the image formation section to print the first image on the continuous paper when the serial printing distance is equal to or shorter than a first threshold, and to decrease the proportion of deteriorated toner in a developer by printing the first image and a second image on the continuous paper when the serial printing distance exceeds a first threshold, wherein the second image is based on an image information.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, an image forming apparatus comprises a first printing unit configured to execute printing with non-decolorable first toner on an image receiving medium, a second printing unit configured to execute printing with decolorable second toner on the image receiving medium, and a control module configured to print an image according to image information on the image receiving medium with the first printing unit, and execute printing on a cover paper of the image receiving medium with the second printing unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit forming an image on a first recording medium based on image data, a measurement unit being positioned in an immediate vicinity of the image forming unit, being arranged upstream of a sheet-conveyance path than the image forming unit, and measuring a size of the first recording medium, an expansion ratio calculation unit calculating an expansion ratio of the first recording medium based on a first size of the first recording medium obtained before the first recording medium is passed through the image forming unit and a second size of the first recording medium obtained after the first recording medium is passed through the image forming unit, and a correction unit correcting the image data used for forming another image on a second recording medium conveyed after the first recording medium based on the expansion ratio.

Abstract: A method for providing a page countdown for a replaceable unit of an image forming device according to one embodiment includes calculating a number of pages remaining until the replaceable unit will reach the end of its life. The calculated number of pages remaining until the replaceable unit will reach the end of life is displayed on a display screen. After the calculated number of pages remaining is displayed, the displayed number of pages remaining is decreased by one for each page printed, the number of pages remaining is recalculated and a discrepancy between the displayed number of pages remaining and the recalculated number of pages remaining is tracked. If the discrepancy exceeds a predetermined error threshold, the recalculated number of pages remaining is displayed and the displayed number of pages remaining continues to be decreased by one for each page printed from the displayed recalculated number of pages remaining.

Abstract: When a recording agent amount limiting process is carried out, a color reproduction range is narrowed, and therefore gradation properties of dark areas are deteriorated and information originally held by an image is sometimes undesirably lost. By obtaining (401) a colorant amount for each target pixel of input color image data, calculating (402) a colorant amount of a peripheral area of the target pixel, and correcting (400) a density range of the input color image data based on the colorant amount of the target pixel and the colorant amount of the peripheral area of the target pixel, amounts of recording agent are limited and reductions in image quality are prevented.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developing chamber; a toner carrier disposed in the developing chamber; a toner supply part configured to supply toner to the toner carrier; a toner amount detecting part configured to change its rotational position according to the amount of toner near the toner supply part to detect the amount of toner remaining in the developing chamber; and a toner flow restricting part configured to block movement of the toner around the toner amount detecting part which is caused by a flow of the toner in the developing chamber generated by the rotation of the toner supply part and the toner carrier.

Abstract: According to embodiments, an image forming apparatus forms an image using at least one coloring material from among a plurality of coloring materials including a discolorable coloring material. In a case where the residual amount of any one coloring material from among the plurality of coloring materials is less than a predetermined value, a control unit of the image forming apparatus controls an image formation using another coloring material other than the coloring material of which the residual amount is less than the predetermined value.

Abstract: A replacement consumable unit management apparatus is provided with: a receiver which receives consumable unit replacement information indicating that one consumable unit of one color or more than one consumable unit of different colors has been replaced with a new one, from one or more than one image forming apparatus which the replacement consumable unit management apparatus can access via a communication circuit; a consumable unit manager which manages the remaining amount information or the life information of the one or more than one consumable unit, and stock information indicating the states of the stocks of replacement consumable units for the one or more than one consumable unit; a determiner which, if the receiver receives the consumable unit replacement information while a consumable unit which cannot be replaced with a new one because of no stock and a consumable unit whose remaining amount information or life information is smaller than a first predetermined value are both used at the same place

Abstract: A control method of an image forming apparatus which is connected to an external apparatus, supports a resource saving mode, and outputs document data is provided. The control method includes: selecting the document data to be output, selecting an output option to be applied to the selected document data, comparing a resource saving value corresponding to the output option to be applied to the document data and a resource saving set value which is pre-set in the image forming apparatus, displaying at least one suggestion option to save resources of the document data according to a result of comparison, and selecting one of the displayed suggestion option and outputting the document data.

Abstract: A color-fadable developer contains a binder resin, a color generation compound and a color developing agent. When the developer is heated from a temperature range of 0° C. to 20° C. to a temperature range of 150° C. to 180° C. at a temperature increase rate range of 5° C./min to 10° C./min a first time and a second time, a first differential scanning calorimetry curve based on a measurement by differential scanning calorimetry during the first heating has an endothermic peak that is missing from a second differential scanning calorimetry curve based on a measurement differential scanning calorimetry during the second heating, and has a different peak than the endothermic peak caused by a glass transition point of a binder resin.

Abstract: A controller unit determines the operation mode of a device when an error relating to a color cartridge has been detected. When the controller unit determines that the operation mode of the device is a toner replacement priority mode, the controller unit determines whether or not the number of times a monochrome printing job has been executed is equal to or greater than a threshold value without resolving the error. When the number of times a monochrome printing job has been executed is equal to or greater than a threshold value without resolving the error, the controller unit switches the operation mode of the device to a monochrome performance priority mode.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; a plurality of developing cartridges including respective toner accommodating portions for accommodating toners for forming an image on the image bearing member; a discriminating portion for discriminating color of the toner accommodated in each of the plurality of developing cartridges; a controller capable of controlling an image forming operation in a state in which the developing cartridges, of the plurality of developing cartridges, accommodating the toners of the same color are mounted; and a storing portion for storing lifetime information of the plurality of developing cartridges, respectively. When the developing cartridges accommodating the toners of the same color are mounted, the controller determines the developing cartridge, of the developing cartridges accommodating the toners of the same color, to be used for performing the image forming operation, on the basis of the lifetime information.

Abstract: The developer supplying device supplies a supplementary developer including a toner and a carrier in a predetermined weight ratio. The developer supplying device includes a supplementary developer container containing the supplementary developer, and a supplementary developer feeding passage configured to feed the supplementary developer from the supplementary developer container to a developing device. The supplementary developer container is replaced when the supplementary developer is substantially exhausted. The developer supplying device further includes a carrier concentration determining device provided on the supplementary developer feeding passage to determine the concentration of the carrier in the supplementary developer fed through the supplementary developer feeding passage, and a residual supplementary developer amount estimating device configured to estimate the amount of the supplementary developer remaining in the supplementary developer container.

Abstract: A system and related method for selectively printing color content of a page with a reduced color gamut are provided. The system includes a detection module, a printing mode module, and a conversion module. The detection module is configured to detect a color object in the page and the printing mode module exists in at least one mode. The conversion module can selectively convert the detected color object to a converted reduced-colorant object in accordance with the existence of the at least one mode of the printing mode module.

Abstract: A method for forming a variable data job includes a fixed original image provided by original image data in a first multiple channel color plane and content provided by variable image data in a second multiple channel color plane. The original image data is converted to fixed image data in a clear channel color plane. Raster image processing is performed on the fixed image data to translate the fixed image data into a first ready-to-print file. The ready-to-print file is saved in a memory as a post-RIP file. The variable image data is subsequently provided in at least the second multiple channel color plane. Image processing is performed on the variable image data to obtain a second ready-to-print file. The post-RIP file is merged with the second ready-to-print file for forming the variable data job. The variable data job is printed to render output.

Abstract: A system and method for promoting environmental behavior by device users are provided. The method includes allocating “green” points to each of a plurality of users. A job request, such as a print job request, is received from one of the users. A cost in points is computed for executing the job request, based on a formula which is designed to promote environmental behavior by the user. The user's allocated points are reduced by the computed cost when the job is performed.

Abstract: A toner cartridge inserting and removing door is provided at a removal port of each of a plurality of toner cartridges. Normally, the toner cartridge inserting and removing door is locked and cannot be opened. For a case where the remaining amount of a toner in the toner cartridge is decreased and a change is needed, a display unit for notifying thereof is provided, thereby selectively opening the toner cartridge inserting and removing door corresponding to a toner cartridge for which a change is necessary.

Abstract: This invention provides a color print control method of acquiring an optimum profile by a simple profile acquisition process in consideration of the clustering configuration. According to the color print control method of this invention, a printer manager (15) manages a combination of color printers as a virtual printer. A color setting manager (17) manages a color profile used for color matching in association with the virtual printer and output paper. A job controller (11) controls to accept a print job, whose destination is the managed virtual printer and which contains color matching settings, cause a rendering unit (18) to render the print job, acquire a profile for each virtual printer, and cause a color management processor (16) to perform color matching.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which forms an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive drum, serving as an image carrier, develops the image using toners of a plurality of colors, and transfers a toner image onto a printing medium in accordance with an electrophotographic process. A toner consumption amount detection unit detects the toner consumption amount of each of the toners of the plurality of colors, a decision unit decides upon a color to form a patch, based on input image data and the detected toner consumption amount of each color, a patch sensor detects the density of a patch of the decided color by generating the patch at a predetermined position on the photosensitive drum serving as an image carrier outside an area to form a color image, and an adjustment unit adjusts the printing density based on the detected patch density.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is supplied capable of lowering cost of exchange part. In the image forming apparatus, the exchange part is furnished being attachable and removable, an identification information obtaining process section to obtain identification information of the exchange part from the exchange part, and an operation allowing process section to allow image formation in the case that the identification information obtaining process section can not obtain the identification information, are comprised, so that it is unnecessary to provide an identification information storing portion for storing the identification information to the exchange part of shipment stage.

Abstract: Methods and systems for facilitating remote access and customization of internally generated printing node status reports. In some embodiments, the methods and systems advantageously facilitate remote access and customization of internally generated printing node status reports by adapting preexisting features that generate local hard copies of printing node status reports in response to locally initiated commands. Such adaptation enables a printing node to receive, process and respond to remotely initiated requests for printing node status reports in a manner that permits remote customization of the style of printing node status reports.

Abstract: A type detecting part detects types of drawing objects included in a printing job. A rate detecting part detects a rate of each type of drawing object. A storing part stores the rate of each type of drawing object as a count value of a statistics counter which counts predetermined units of drawing objects for each type of drawing object. A comparing part compares a previously set printing quality with a recommended printing quality which is derived from count values of statistics counters. A changing part changes the previously set printing quality to the recommended printing quality when the previously set printing quality is different from the recommended printing quality.

Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus that is capable of reducing work burdens imposed on a user in terms of toner cartridge replacement. When a cartridge detection sensor detects that at least one of toner cartridges is emptied, a specified amount of toner is forcibly supplied from another toner cartridge than the toner cartridge subjected to detection to an intermediate hopper. After that, the amount of the toner within the another toner cartridge is detected. When an empty toner cartridge is newly detected, a request for replacement is issued as to both of the newly detected empty toner cartridge and the previously detected empty toner cartridge.

Abstract: Restriction information on a total colorant amount for a medium is obtained. Patches at grid points in a color space corresponding to a plurality of colorants at which the total colorant amount falls within a restriction represented by the restriction information, and a patch at a point surrounded by the patches are generated. Color values are obtained by measuring the colors of the patches printed on the medium. It is determined based on a color prediction value between the grid points whether the measured color values are appropriate, and if so, a color value at a grid point at which the total colorant amount exceeds the restriction is estimated based on the measured color values. A color separation table is created based on the measured color values and the estimated value.

Abstract: A controller unit determines the operation mode of a device when an error relating to a color cartridge has been detected. When the controller unit determines that the operation mode of the device is a toner replacement priority mode, the controller unit determines whether or not the number of times a monochrome printing job has been executed is equal to or greater than a threshold value without resolving the error. When the number of times a monochrome printing job has been executed is equal to or greater than a threshold value without resolving the error, the controller unit switches the operation mode of the device to a monochrome performance priority mode.

Abstract: The color printing control device outputs color material reduction processed data generated by applying a color material reduction process to each pixel of bitmaps converted to color material colors to be used in printing, when it is judged that the color material reduction printing mode is specified. The color material reduction process includes chroma conversion that reduces chroma and under-color removal/black generation that replaces at least a portion of achromatic components generated by overlaying of a plurality of color materials.

Abstract: An approach is provided for managing the processing of print data at a printing device based upon available consumable resources. A printing device includes a print process configured to determine consumable resources that are currently available at the printing device. The print process is further configured to determine which print data is to be processed based upon the consumable resources currently available at the printing device and the consumable resources required to completely process each of the print data. Print data that can be completely processed using the currently available consumable resources are selected for processing. The print process may also be configured to cause a notification to be provided to a client device to indicate the consumable resources currently available at a printing device and/or that insufficient consumable resources were available to process particular print data and to recommend other consumable resources to process the particular print data.

Abstract: A forming-dot counting section counts a number of dots of a subject color based on dot pattern data of the subject color. An overlapping-dot counting section compares the dot pattern data of the subject color and the dot pattern data of at least one other color of which dots are formed prior to the subject color, and counts a number of overlapping dots of the subject color that are formed in an overlapping relation with the dots of the at least one other color. A calculating section calculates the amount of adhering toner of the subject color by subtracting an estimated amount of non-adhering toner from an estimated amount of adhering toner. The estimated amount of adhering toner is estimated based on the number of dots of the subject color. The estimated amount of non-adhering toner is estimated based on the number of overlapping dots.

Abstract: A replacement consumable unit management apparatus is provided with: a receiver which receives consumable unit replacement information indicating that one consumable unit of one color or more than one consumable unit of different colors has been replaced with a new one, from one or more than one image forming apparatus which the replacement consumable unit management apparatus can access via a communication circuit; a consumable unit manager which manages the remaining amount information or the life information of the one or more than one consumable unit, and stock information indicating the states of the stocks of replacement consumable units for the one or more than one consumable unit; a determiner which, if the receiver receives the consumable unit replacement information while a consumable unit which cannot be replaced with a new one because of no stock and a consumable unit whose remaining amount information or life information is smaller than a first predetermined value are both used at the same place

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming mechanism for forming an image, at least one developer container replaceably provided in the image forming apparatus for containing developer, a housing for housing the image forming mechanism and the at least one developer container, and an operation device provided on the housing. The housing includes at least one openable portion opened for replacement of the at least one developer container. The operation device includes an instruction display part for indicating a message prompting opening of the at least one openable portion, and at least one developer-end display part for indicating depletion or near-depletion of the developer contained in any one of the at least one developer container. The at least one developer-end display part and the instruction display part are placed adjacent to each other and are viewable from a front side of the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit including a developing device, a toner cartridge to supply a toner to the developing device, a first memory which is provided in the toner cartridge and in which data of a toner characteristic is previously stored, a toner use amount detection mechanism to detect a parameter value for obtaining a toner use amount, a second memory which is provided in the image forming unit and in which the parameter value and a threshold of a toner use amount for performing a toner replacement operation are stored, and an arithmetic control mechanism which obtains the toner use amount based on the parameter value, compares the toner use amount with the threshold, determines necessity of the toner replacement operation, and executes the toner replacement operation based on the characteristic data.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus that includes: a buffer configured to temporarily store therein toner supplied from a toner cartridge and to be fed to a developing unit; a magnetic reed switch configured to sense magnet variation occurring in a sensing range and sequentially output signals each indicating a result of the sensing; a toner level indicator plate disposed within the buffer to swing up and down about a fixed edge in response to a change in a level of the toner that remains in the buffer, the toner level indicator plate having a magnet on a free edge thereof, the magnet being made to reach the sensing range in a state where the toner level indicator plate has swung down.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; a plurality of developing cartridges including respective toner accommodating portions for accommodating toners for forming an image on the image bearing member; a discriminating portion for discriminating color of the toner accommodated in each of the plurality of developing cartridges; a controller capable of controlling an image forming operation in a state in which the developing cartridges, of the plurality of developing cartridges, accommodating the toners of the same color are mounted; and a storing portion for storing lifetime information of the plurality of developing cartridges, respectively. When the developing cartridges accommodating the toners of the same color are mounted, the controller determines the developing cartridge, of the developing cartridges accommodating the toners of the same color, to be used for performing the image forming operation, on the basis of the lifetime information.

Abstract: An information attaching unit attaches either one of carrier density information of initial developer and loose apparent density information of toner in the initial developer to a housing of a developing device. A density-information storage unit stores therein either one of the carrier density information and the loose apparent density information as electronic data. At least one of the information attaching unit and the density-information storage unit is provided before shipment of the developing device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprising: an attachment of a cartridge configured to accommodate a color material; a memory configured to memorize a current cartridge information which shows whether the cartridge attached to the attachment is a first cartridge which accommodates a first color material or a second cartridge which accommodates a second color material; and a controller configured to read the current cartridge information from said memory when the current cartridge attached to the attachment is exchanged to a new cartridge, further said controller configured to judge the new cartridge based on the current cartridge information read from said memory, further said controller configured to temporary stop initiating of a supply of the color material from the new cartridge until the color material supplied from the current cartridge remains in the image forming apparatus when the new cartridge is different from the current cartridge and said controller configured to initiate a supply of the color materia

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an alternating-current high-voltage power supply generating an alternating-current bias for detection of the remaining amount of toner. The alternating-current high-voltage power supply includes a piezoelectric transformer, a piezoelectric-transformer driving unit, a piezoelectric-transformer driving-signal generating unit, a voltage detecting unit, a voltage setting unit, and an controlling unit that feeds back a difference signal between a detection level signal supplied from a detection signal detecting unit and a setting signal supplied from the voltage setting unit to the piezoelectric-transformer driving-signal generating unit to control an output voltage from the piezoelectric-transformer.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus a developing device develops an electrostatic latent image on an image carrier with a developer that contains toner to obtain a toner image, a toner-amount detecting unit detects amount of toner attached to the toner image, and a toner-density detecting unit detects a density of toner in the developer. Moreover, a process control unit corrects a toner-density target value indicative of a target value of density of toner in the developer based on the amount of toner detected by the toner-amount detecting unit and the density of toner detected by the toner-density detecting unit, and a determines execution timing of next process based on corrected toner-density target value.

Abstract: An image printing system includes a print engine and a sensing system. The print engine is configured to print a marking material image on a image bearing surface. The sensing system includes a plurality of illuminators, a modulator, a sensor, and a demodulator. Each illuminator is configured to simultaneously emit a light beam at the marking material image on the image bearing surface, thereby producing reflectance from the marking material image at least in a first direction. The modulator is configured to modulate an intensity characteristic of each of the light beams emitted by the illuminators such that each light beam has a different modulated waveform characteristic, where the waveform characteristic includes at least frequency. The sensor is configured to detect the reflectance from the plurality of light beams in the first direction and output a reflectance signal.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming mechanism for forming an image, at least one developer container replaceably provided in the image forming apparatus for containing developer, a housing for housing the image forming mechanism and the at least one developer container, and an operation device provided on the housing. The housing includes at least one openable portion opened for replacement of the at least one developer container. The operation device includes an instruction display part for indicating a message prompting opening of the at least one openable portion, and at least one developer-end display part for indicating depletion or near-depletion of the developer contained in any one of the at least one developer container. The at least one developer-end display part and the instruction display part are placed adjacent to each other and are viewable from a front side of the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which is capable of adjusting the color density while improving the printing efficiency. A color density adjustment value-adjusting unit adjusts a color density adjustment value in predetermined adjustment timing so as to keep colors of an image constant. A color density adjustment value-storing unit stores the color density adjustment value in advance. An adjustment timing occurrence-determining unit determines whether or not the adjustment timing occurs during execution of an image forming job. A color density adjustment value-predicting unit predicts the color density adjustment value in the adjustment timing determined to occur, based on the color density adjustment value stored in advance. The color density adjustment value-adjusting unit is adapted to adjust the color density adjustment value based on the predicted color density adjustment value.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of containers, a container compartment, and a plurality of indicators. The plurality of containers contains developing agent, and may be arranged in parallel with each other in a first sequential order. The container compartment holds the plurality of containers at varied holding heights. The plurality of indicators indicates information of the developing agent in the plurality of containers, and may be arranged in parallel to each other in a second sequential order on the image forming apparatus. The first sequential order of the plurality of containers corresponds to the second sequential order of the plurality of indicators.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including a toner supplying unit to supply toner, a toner transporting unit to transport the toner supplied from the toner supplying unit, a sensor to sense a density of the toner transported by the toner transporting unit, a compensating signal generating unit to compensate for amounts of the toner pre-supplied by the toner supplying unit, and a control unit to generate a control signal to control the toner supplying unit by receiving a sensing signal of the sensor as an input signal and a compensating signal of the compensating signal generating unit as a feedback signal.

Abstract: Document processing systems and methods are presented in which the remaining amount of toner, replenisher, or other print consumable in a multi-dispenser bottle consumable supply system is determined, and a user can configure a user interface to graphically display the remaining print consumable supply levels for one or more colors in one or more print engines.

Abstract: In a color laser printer, four toner cartridges are juxtaposed in a straight line in a process unit. When the process unit is withdrawn from the laser printer to a position at which the toner cartridge nearest the front of the laser printer can be removed, an out-of-toner sensor farthest from the front of the laser printer from among four out-of-toner sensors turns on. Side surfaces of a unit-accommodating section constituting the process unit block detection light from the other three out-of-toner sensors so that these out-of-toner sensors remain off. Since the farthest out-of-toner sensor switches from off to on, the CPU determines that the process unit has been withdrawn to a position at which the nearest toner cartridge can be removed.

Abstract: In the method, a digital image is received. A granularity model is constructed of each of the toner stations. A noise table is produced. The noise table is based on the granularity models and is adaptive to the content of the digital image. Noise is reduced in the digital image using the noise table. The digital image is divided into a plurality of color records, each corresponding to a respective toner station. The color records of the noise reduced digital image are printed using respective toner stations. Each granularity model defines a toner applied by the respective toner station.

Abstract: In a copier having an image data converter that sets the C density, the M density and the Y density to a density obtained by multiplying the density of black in the RGB system by a CMY mixture ratio and sets the K density to a density obtained by multiplying the density of black by a K mixture ratio when black in the RGB system is converted into the CMYK system, the image data converter sets the K mixture ratio to a K reference mixture ratio when TK?PHK, and sets the K mixture ratio to a K high mixture ratio that is higher than the K reference mixture ratio when TK PHK. Here, TK is a K toner amount of consumption insufficiency which is a K toner amount to be consumed to prevent toner deterioration at the driving amount of the developing unit, and PHK is a K high predetermined value.

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: An image forming apparatus including: a plurality of image data acquisition units for respectively acquiring one or more page(s) of image data; a color or monochrome determining unit for determining whether each of the acquired pages is in color or in monochrome; an image forming unit for performing image formation of each page switchably using a monochrome-only image forming function for a monochrome page or a color and monochrome image forming function for a color page and a monochrome page; an image data switching unit for sequentially selecting and arranging the acquired pages of image data one by one so that the image formation of each page is performed in the order of selection; a function selecting unit for selecting either one of the monochrome-only and color and monochrome image forming functions for each of the arranged pages on the basis of the determination result made by the color or monochrome determining unit; and a control unit for controlling the image forming unit so that image formation of