An image formation system includes: an encoded image generation device including a first processor that generates print data from manuscript data, sets security information for controlling a print mode of the print data, and generates an encoded image from the print data and the security information; and an image formation device including a second processor that inputs the encoded image, decodes the print data and the security data from the input encoded image, determines whether an output of the decoded print data is available in accordance with the decoded security information, and outputs the decoded print data when it is determined that the output of the print data is available.

An image data processing method for estimating an ink consumption amount includes: an image data compression step of compressing image data after RIP processing by run-length encoding; and an ink consumption amount estimation step of calculating a predicted ink consumption amount when printing based on image data is performed by an inkjet printing device based on information on the number of occurrences for each gradation value obtained when run-length encoding is applied to image data and information on an ink consumption amount for each gradation value held in an ink consumption amount table prepared in advance.

An image processing apparatus includes at least one of an image forming device configured to form an image on a sheet or an image reader configured to read an image on the sheet, and a storage configured to store information. The apparatus also includes a display configured to display a screen, and a controller. The controller is configured to install an application program relating to the image forming device or the image reader, determine whether to display an execution instruction image for inputting an execution instruction of the installed application program on an individual home screen which is a home screen for individual use by each user, and display the individual home screen containing the execution instruction image determined to be displayed on the display.

A printer is caused to perform a checking print for a job in a case that a predetermined user's instruction is received via a user interface. The printer is caused to perform the checking print for the job without receiving the predetermined user's instruction in a case that the job meets a predetermined condition.

An example method of setting ink limits for a printing system is described. The method involves printing a first set of color ramps. Each color ramp has test areas which are printed based different Neugebauer Primary Area Coverage (NPac) vectors. A test area for each color ramp is indicated that meets an image quality metric and Neugebauer Primary ink use limits are set based on these test areas. A second set of color ramps, for combinations of the set of available Neugebauer Primaries, is then printed, The test areas for each ramp are defined by monotonically-varying vector element values for one Neugebauer Primary in a combination and the second set of ramps are defined by monotonically-varying vector element values across said ramps for another Neugebauer Primary in a the combination. Test areas are then indicated again for the second set of color ramps to set ink use limits for the printing system.

An image processing apparatus includes a processor for acquiring an image of a reference member, calculating a dirt degree at an imaging position by comparing a gradient value of a pixel with a gradient value of peripheral pixels of the pixel or comparing the gradient value of the pixel with a reference value, with regard to a pixel included in the acquired image of the reference member, and generating when the dirt degree is equal to or more than a first threshold. When the dirt degree is less than the first threshold and equal to or more than a second threshold that is smaller than the first threshold, the processor generates the warning only when a scan count exceeds a scan count threshold, and when the dirt degree is less than the second threshold, the processor does not generate the warning.

An image processing apparatus includes a user interface and circuitry. The user interface displays a screen including a plurality of graphical representations corresponding to a plurality of application programs being installed on the image processing apparatus. The circuitry counts a number of times of use, for each of the plurality of application programs, each time of use being counted when the application has been activated for at least a predetermined time period, selects one of the plurality of application programs having the greatest counted number of times of use, as the application program that is most frequently used, and controls the user interface to automatically display an operation screen of the selected application program, when the image processing apparatus is in an unused state.

An image processing apparatus that is capable of calculating an appropriate replacement guide value of a part even in a case where the image processing apparatus operates under different operating modes. The image processing apparatus is capable of operating in a plurality of operating modes of different image forming speeds and has a replacement guide default value showing a guide for replacement of a part for each of the operating modes. A degree of wear of the part for each of the operating modes is calculated based on the replacement guide default value. The calculated degree of wear is, in a case where the operating mode is changed, converted to a degree of wear for the operating mode after the change, and a replacement guide value of the part in the operating mode is calculated after the change based on the converted degree of wear.

A method of controlling a printing system includes displaying, in a mobile terminal, a setting region for inputting a print setting for print data, and a search region for inputting a search condition for image forming apparatus candidates, of a plurality of image forming apparatuses, for executing printing, and searching, in a management system, for one or more image forming apparatuses, out of the plurality of image forming apparatuses, in accordance with the search condition input in the search region of the screen, and displaying display content that associates information of the image forming apparatuses with charge information for when the print data is printed by the image forming apparatuses, respectively, on a screen that includes a selection region by which it is possible to select the printing target, out of the one or more image forming apparatuses found in the searching.

A printer is caused to perform a checking print for a job in a case that a predetermined user's instruction is received via a user interface. The printer is caused to perform the checking print for the job without receiving the predetermined user's instruction in a case that the job meets a predetermined condition.