An image forming apparatus includes: a first image forming unit that forms a clear toner image with a clear toner; a second image forming unit that forms a color toner image with a color toner; a transfer unit that transfers at least one of the clear toner image and the color toner image onto a medium; and a controller that controls formation of the clear toner image and the color toner image. When the medium is a heat transfer medium and the color toner image is formed on the heat transfer medium, the controller performs control so that the clear toner image is formed on a region where the color toner image is formed and a weight per unit area of the color toner is less than 0.29 mg/cm.sup.2, and a weight per unit area of the clear toner image is 0.15 to 0.55 mg/cm.sup.2.

An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section and a controller. The image forming section selectively forms a first toner image to be printed on transfer paper other than plain paper with use of a toner and forms a second toner image to be printed on the plain paper with use of the toner. The controller controls the image forming section and thereby makes a first area density of the toner in the first toner image and a second area density of the toner in the second toner image differ from each other.

Provided is a heater including: a substrate that has electrical conductivity; a first insulation portion that is provided on a first surface of the substrate, has an insulation property; at least one heat generation body that is provided on the first insulation portion; a second insulation portion that is provided on a second surface of the substrate which is opposite to the first surface, has an insulation property; at least one detection unit that is provided on at least one of the first insulation portion and the second insulation portion; and a first wiring which is provided on at least one of the first insulation portion and the second insulation portion, and in which one end is electrically connected to one terminal of the detection unit and the other end is electrically connected to the substrate having the electrical conductivity.

A sheet processing apparatus includes circuitry configured to acquire a size of a two-ply sheet, in which two sheets are bonded together at one end, and a size of an insertion sheet; and control a sheet processing operation based on the size of the two-ply sheet and the size of the insertion sheet. The sheet processing operation includes inserting the insertion sheet in the two-ply sheet.

Systems and methods for printing data on a substrate including a color-changeable material are provided. One system includes a processing circuit and a device including an energy source. At least a portion of a printed publication is printed on the substrate using a commercial printing press based on fixed data. The device including the energy source is configured to add variable data to the substrate. The processing circuit is configured to receive the variable data and to control the energy source to change a color of the color-changeable material based on the variable data to provide at least a portion of the printed publication. The processing circuit is configured to control the energy source to change the color of the color-changeable material in-line with a flow of the substrate through one of a printing line, a finishing line, or a packaging line of the commercial printing press.

Liquid electrophotography apparatus including a plurality of members defining a flow path for a printing liquid. At least a first member of the plurality of members is arranged to generate an electric field. The liquid electrophotography apparatus also includes a first insulation layer arranged around at least a portion of a surface of the first member to prevent electrical discharge from the printing liquid.

An image forming apparatus includes heating and pressing rotary members, an acquisition unit, and a speed control unit. In a print job where a first recording material is a first sheet and a second sheet, the acquisition unit acquires first information on the recording materials of the first and second sheets. The speed control unit controls a conveyance speed of the recording material of the first sheet based on the first information on the recording materials. In a print job where the first recording material is the first sheet and a second recording material is a third sheet, the acquisition unit acquires second information on the recording materials of the first and third sheets. The speed control unit controls the conveyance speed of the recording material of the first sheet based on the information on the recording material of the first sheet contained in the second information.

A transport device includes a powder applying device and a guidance member. The powder applying device is provided in a guide path through which a sheet is guided toward an image holding body holding a toner image to be transferred onto the sheet, and applies powder to end portions of the sheet in a transport direction. The guidance member is provided on a side facing the powder applying device in the guide path, and guides the sheet being transported through the guide path to the powder applying device.

An image forming system includes first and second image forming apparatuses including respective image forming sections and fixing sections. When the system forms an image on a sheet using the first image forming section, then forms an image on the sheet using the second image forming apparatus, and forms an image on a same side of a sheet which has a nonuniform sheet thickness and first and second regions respectively having small and large sheet thicknesses, the image in the first region is formed and fixed using the first image forming apparatus and the image in the second region is formed and fixed using the second image forming apparatus, and the respective fixing sections of the first and the second image forming apparatuses pass the nonuniform sheet while applying a second load lower than a first load applied to a sheet having a uniform sheet thickness.

Liquid electrophotography apparatus including a plurality of members defining a flow path for a printing liquid. At least a first member of the plurality of members is arranged to generate an electric field. The liquid electrophotography apparatus also includes a first insulation layer arranged around at least a portion of a surface of the first member to prevent electrical discharge from the printing liquid.