A system and method for consistent print product generation that converts aspects of a print job from a first print shop in a first print shop terminology to a standard terminology using a mapping scheme generated by the first print shop such that for a second print shop selected to execute the submitted print job, the standard terminology is converted to the second print shop's terminology by using a mapping scheme generated by the second print shop. The system and method of the inventive subject matter can use feedback to improve the accuracy of the mapping schemes.

An image forming control apparatus for controlling an image forming apparatus to form an image on a recording medium includes a memory to store a target property data of original gradation values of image data of a target image to be formed on the recording medium; and circuitry to acquire actual property data of the target image actually formed on the recording medium, convert the original gradation values to another gradation values, generate a primary correction data based on the original gradation values and the another gradation values, generate a secondary correction data to supplement the generated primary correction data, compare the primary correction data and the secondary correction data, and generate gradation correction data used for correcting the original gradation values existing in a specific range of the original gradation values based on a comparison result of the primary correction data and the secondary correction data.

In one implementation, a method for generation of a soft-proof file is described. A ticket template and a job definition are associated with input contents. Print-ready data is caused to be generated based on the input content, the job definition, and the ticket template. A soft-proof file is caused to be generated based on the print-ready data, the ticket template, and the job definition.

A printing apparatus comprises: a printing section that prints out print data onto a medium; an imaging section that captures an image of a print result on the medium; and an error notification section that performs error notification in a case of occurrence of an error during the printing of the print data. The error notification section judges whether to issue an error notice or not. In a case of an affirmative judgment to issue the error notice, the error notification section acquires a print image showing the print result by using the imaging section and transmits the acquired print image together with the error notice.

An image forming control apparatus for controlling an image forming apparatus to form an image on a recording medium includes a memory to store a target property data of original gradation values of image data of a target image to be formed on the recording medium; and circuitry to acquire actual property data of the target image actually formed on the recording medium, convert the original gradation values to another gradation values, generate a primary correction data based on the original gradation values and the another gradation values, generate a secondary correction data to supplement the generated primary correction data, compare the primary correction data and the secondary correction data, and generate gradation correction data used for correcting the original gradation values existing in a specific range of the original gradation values based on a comparison result of the primary correction data and the secondary correction data.