In one aspect, a computer-implemented method for estimating ink use by a printer is provided. The method involves receiving, by a computer, a request for a comingled print job comprising a plurality of print jobs to be carried out by the printer. The method also involves traversing, by the computer, pages of the comingled print job and identifying, for each page of the comingled print job, a print job of the plurality of print jobs to which the page belongs. The method also involves for each of the plurality of print jobs, calculating, by the computer, an estimated total amount of ink required for printing the print job. The method also involves communicating, by the computer, to a client terminal, the estimated total amounts of ink required for printing the plurality of print jobs.

An information processing device includes an acquisition unit acquiring image data and ink data, the image data being obtained by digitizing, as an image, the fabric before the printing process is performed, the ink data indicating a type of the ink, a storage unit storing derivation data for deriving a recommended parameter for at least one of the pre-processing device and the post-processing device, and a control unit deriving, based on the derivation data, the recommended parameter from the image data and the ink data, wherein the derivation data includes first data and second data, the first data being configured to define a learned model learned by machine learning, the learned model being configured to, when the image data is input, output fabric data indicating a feature value of the fabric, the second data indicating a correspondence relationship between the fabric data and the ink data, and the recommended parameter.

An image forming apparatus includes a consumable cartridge and a main body. The consumable cartridge includes a cartridge memory storing usage information and identifying information. The main body includes a main memory and a controller. The controller stores the identifying information stored in the cartridge memory in the main memory and rewrites the usage information stored in the cartridge memory into information indicating that the consumable cartridge is used in a case where the usage information indicates that the consumable cartridge is unused. The controller allows the image forming apparatus to execute printing in a case where the usage information indicates that the consumable cartridge is used and the identifying information stored in the cartridge memory is stored in the main memory or executes a specific error process in a case where the usage information indicates that the consumable cartridge is used and the identifying information stored in the cartridge memory is not stored in the main memory.

An image processing apparatus includes circuitry. The circuitry acquires colorant set information indicating at least one colorant set that reproduces a spot color. The circuitry classifies, according to colorant mounting information indicating a colorant mounted on an image forming apparatus, the at least one colorant set into first and second colorant sets. The spot color is reproduceable with the first colorant set without a replacement of the colorant mounted on the image forming apparatus. The spot color is reproduceable with the second colorant set with a replacement of the colorant mounted on the image forming apparatus. The circuitry displays the at least one colorant set on a display on which the at least one colorant set is identifiable as one of the first colorant set and the second colorant set. The circuitry receives a selection of the first colorant set that is used to reproduce the spot color.

A pipe connection decision device includes a first material including a plurality of first pipes each having a connector receiver attached to one end, a second material including a plurality of second pipes each having a connector attached to one end, a plurality of light emitters respectively provided on the plurality of connector receivers, a plurality of light receivers respectively provided on the plurality of connectors, a storage device, a display device, and a control device. The control device causes the display device, upon deciding that the color of received light accords with an allocated color, with respect to all of the plurality of light receivers, to display a first message, and causes the display device, upon deciding that the color of received light discords with the allocated color, with respect to at least one of the plurality of light receivers, to display a second message.

An image forming apparatus for forming an image on paper includes a body surface temperature measuring sensor, a user interface, a communication interface, and a controller. The body surface temperature measuring sensor measures the body surface temperature of the operator in a non-contact manner. The user interface presents a message to the operator. The communication interface transmits a message to the administrator who manages the image forming apparatus. When access to the surface or the inside of the image forming apparatus is required and the body surface temperature of the operator is equal to or higher than a threshold temperature, the controller transmits a message requesting to touch the surface or the inside of the image forming apparatus to the administrator by the communication interface and presents a message requesting not to touch the image forming apparatus to the operator by the user interface.

A method of enhancing a fluorescent image on a substrate, the method including forming the fluorescent image on the substrate, the fluorescent image including a fluorescent marking material, forming a border on the substrate adjacent to the fluorescent image, the border including a non-fluorescing marking material and a thickness, wherein the border at least partially circumscribes the fluorescent image.

There is provided a method for rendering an image according to selected image quality attributes. Two or more image quality attributes are selected from a plurality of attributes of the image. A set of pigments for an area of the image and a density for each pixel of the area are determined. A quantity of pretreatment for deposition onto a print target is determined, where the pretreatment quantity is dependent on the pigments, the density, and the selected image quality attributes.

An estimation system provides consumable use estimations, such as for ink or toner, in printing operations. The estimation system uses a classification-based consumable use process to estimate the consumable use. A print job is assigned a classification category according to an arbitrary job category selected for the print job and a job property defined for the print job using job settings. A plurality of classification categories are available. Job costing data for the print job is provided and used to determine consumable use values for each sheet in the print job and a total consumable use. This information is used to verify the correct classification category was assigned and to update historical consumable use information. An estimate is provided using the classification category and the distribution of the consumable use for print jobs in the category.

A hybrid ink limit is applied during the creation of an ICC profile. The hybrid ink limit takes into account a percentage total area coverage (TAC) ink limit and a volume-based ink limit. The percentage TAC ink limit is specified using an input from an operator. The volume-based ink limit is retrieved based upon the media for the ICC profile. Both ink limits are applied to primary color combinations for color patches to be printed in a test chart used to capture measurement data to create the ICC profile. A combination of primary colors at exceeds either ink limit is adjusted to meet the ink limit. The adjusted combination is used in the test chart to generate the measurement data for the ICC profile. After creation of the ICC profile, the volume-based ink limit is applied to the ICC profile color combinations to identify those combinations still over the ink limit.