An image forming apparatus, which is connectable to a first device configured to conduct a punching process on a sheet with use of a replaceable punching member, the first device being connectable to a second device configured to conduct a binding process for generating a bookbinding product having a binding member inserted through a hole punched in the sheet, the image forming apparatus including: a display configured to display a print setting screen; and a controller configured to determine whether or not the replaceable punching member of the first device is compatible with the binding member of the second device, and control the display to inhibit bookbinding setting using the second device from being selected on the print setting screen in a case where the replaceable punching member is not compatible with the binding member.

An example of apparatus to adjust an offset is provided. The apparatus also includes a printing device to generate a plurality of print jobs. The apparatus also includes an output bin to catch the plurality of print jobs. The apparatus includes a motor to move the output bin, wherein the output bin alternates between a first position and a second position between each print job of the plurality of print jobs. The apparatus also includes a controller to control the motor, wherein the controller is to update the position data based on the sensor data to provide uninterrupted operation of the printing device after the sensor detects the obstacle.

An image forming apparatus to facilitate a determination whether a sheet having an image formed thereon, which is discharged by a designated processed job, is allowed to be taken out or not. The image forming apparatus determines whether or not the sheet having the image formed thereon discharged by the designated processed job is stacked on a stacking unit on which the sheet having the image formed thereon discharged by a job currently performing image forming processing, based on stack state information which can be updated in real time. When a sheet having the image formed thereon is not allowed to be taken out, the image of the portion corresponding the sheet is highlighted. Further, a waiting time is displayed on the display.

Methods and systems for printing and cutting are described. Methods include generating an output image by placing a plurality of input images into an output image, identifying white space in one of the plurality of input images, determining the largest one of remaining ones of the plurality of input images that will fit the white space having been identified, locating the largest one of the remaining ones of the plurality of input images having been determined in the white space, and generating the output image comprising one of the plurality of input images and the largest one of the remaining ones of the plurality of input images having been positioned in the white space.

According to an example, an apparatus may include an automatic document feeder, printing components, an externally accessible embedded finishing mechanism, an illumination source to direct attention to the embedded finishing mechanism, and a controller. The controller may determine whether a certain condition has been met pertaining to media sheets fed into the automatic document feeder or printed by the printing components, and in response to a determination that the certain condition has been met, may activate the illumination source.

Methods and systems for arranging shapes within a document prior to printing cut-out patterns are described. A printing device may identify and group contents in a page of a print job as shapes to be cut out from the paper after they are printed. The printing device may then detect the grouped page contents as cut-out patterns. For each cut-out pattern, the printing device may detect the white spaces of content of the cut-out pattern and mark them as available for printing other cut-out patterns. Thus, the printing device may print multiple cut-out patterns on a same page based on using the white space within larger cut-out patterns.

An object of the invention is to solve low productivity of foil-stamping printing due to frequent replacement of foil rolls when the positions of sizes of foil objects are different in a plurality of jobs. A grouping unit groups jobs on the basis of a foil roll which can be attached to a foil stamping device and foil object information. A job sorting unit sorts the grouped jobs on the basis of a sorting policy by group. A foil-stamping print data transmitting unit transmits foil-stamping print data including the foil object, which is extracted from print data to a foil stamping device. A foil roll replacement information output unit outputs foil roll replacement information indicating a timing that a foil roll is replaced.

Methods and systems for arranging shapes within a document prior to printing cut-out patterns are described. A printing device may identify and group contents in a page of a print job as shapes to be cut out from the paper after they are printed. The printing device may then detect the grouped page contents as cut-out patterns. For each cut-out pattern, the printing device may detect the white spaces of content of the cut-out pattern and mark them as available for printing other cut-out patterns. Thus, the printing device may print multiple cut-out patterns on a same page based on using the white space within larger cut-out patterns.

An information generating device generates data for use in a print processing device capable of printing in a state where sheets are connected to each other, and includes a memory, an input device, and a controller. The memory stores predetermined image data. The input device receives sheet information relating to the sheets which are to be connected to each other by a sheet print processor. The controller sets a magnification ratio indicating either an enlargement ratio or a reduction ratio of the image data, based on a length of the sheet in a second direction orthogonal to a first direction in which sheets are to be connected. In addition, the controller determines a connection length indicating a length of a connection region which is formed between sheets in the first direction, based on the set magnification ratio and the lengths of sheets in the first direction.

An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit that forms an image on a transfer medium on the basis of image data, a feeder that feeds the transfer medium, and a control unit that manages image data and controls the image forming unit and the feeder. In a case where a base image and an overprint image are printed by the same image forming apparatus, the control unit can manage first image data of the base image and second image data of the overprint image by associating the data with each other, and when a jam of the transfer medium is detected during output of an overprint image, the control unit causes a transfer medium to which the base image is output by the image forming apparatus to be replenished for print instead of a jammed transfer medium removed by jam processing.