A method for controlling an image processing apparatus including specifying one or a plurality of pieces of image data; generating a new template based on a feature of the specified one or plurality of pieces of image data, the generated new template including at least one or a plurality of slots for which the specified one or plurality of pieces of image data are laid out; and generating a layout image by laying out the specified one or plurality of pieces of image data to the one or plurality of slots included in the generated new template.

Methods, apparatus and systems for printing an image using an array of nozzles are described. In one example aspect, a printer system includes an array of nozzles and a control device coupled to the array of nozzles. The control device is configured to determine a step size for printing a current section of an image based on a set of masks. The set of masks includes one or more masks used for printing previous sections of the image. The control device is also configured to adjust the set of masks based on a printing mode to be used for the current section of the image. The array of nozzles is configured to print the current section of the image using a combination of the adjusted set of masks.

An information processing apparatus includes a processor configured to extract an annotated page and one or more associated pages associated with the annotated page from target data including plural pages.

A method for forming an image includes: receiving a first image-forming job, and performing a first image-forming operation according to a first recording-medium transport rule; receiving a second image-forming job, and performing a second image-forming operation according to a second recording-medium transport rule. The first image-forming job and the second image-forming job are consecutively outputted image-forming jobs, and recording-medium transport directions of at least one page of the first image-forming job and at least one page of the second image-forming job are different.

An image forming system includes an input device, an image processing device, an image forming device, a delivery device, and a controller. The controller causes the image processing device to execute RIP operation in forward order with respect to print data, upon receipt, through the input device, of a first instruction indicating one of a combination of reverse order and face-up, and a combination of forward order and face-down, as combination of sorting order and face orientation at delivery of a recording medium having an image formed thereon, and causes the image processing device to execute RIP operation in reverse order with respect to the print data, upon receipt, through the input device, of a second instruction indicating one of a combination of forward order and face-up, and a combination of reverse order and face-down, as the combination of the sorting order and the face orientation at delivery.

An image forming apparatus includes a reception unit configured to receive information regarding a size of an image, a setting value regarding N-in-one printing, and a post-processing position from an information processing apparatus, a determination unit configured to determine whether the received setting value regarding the N-in-one printing is a predetermined setting value, a change unit configured to, in a case where the determination unit determines that the received setting value regarding the N-in-one printing is the predetermined setting value, change the received post-processing position based on the received information regarding the size of the image, and an image forming unit configured to form the image received from the information processing apparatus on a recording medium.

An information processing apparatus having print data generation software and print software installed thereon, the print data generation software having been obtained at a first timing, the print software being different from the print data generation software and obtained at a second timing different from the first timing, launches the print software in a case where print setting information set by a user using a setting screen provided by the print software includes a setting that matches a launch condition for the print software.

An information processing apparatus including a controller configured to receive selection of a medium feeder corresponding to a page number from among a plurality of medium feeders that feed a medium; and to regard a page range of the page numbers that have been received as a cycle pattern and to repeatedly apply the cycle pattern to page numbers beyond the page range, to set, as the medium feeders corresponding the page numbers beyond the page range, the medium feeders corresponding to the page numbers in the cycle pattern.

A print controller includes a first print command unit, an output command unit, and a second print command unit. The first print command unit prints multiple page images onto multiple printing media in either one of a first sequence, in which the page images are printed starting from a leading page image toward a final page image, and a second sequence, in which the page images are printed starting from the final page image toward the leading page image. The output command unit gives a command for outputting the printing media to an output destination of a printing apparatus in a state where a printed face of each printing medium faces upward. The second print command unit gives a command for further printing the page images onto the printing media, which are fed to a feed destination of the printing apparatus while being kept in the upward-facing output state in the output destination, such that the printing is performed in the other one of the first sequence and the second sequence.

Techniques for operating a digital printer that includes a media transport and an electronic imager disposed in a path of the media transport are presented. The techniques include: receiving an electronic image of a media sheet obtained by the electronic imager; identifying, from the electronic image of the media sheet, a print-prohibited region of the media sheet; generating a mask representing the print-prohibited region of the media sheet; and electronically storing in electronic persistent memory, in association with an identification of a type of the media sheet, a template comprising information regarding the media sheet type, where the template includes an identification of the print-prohibited region represented by the mask.