Provided is an image forming apparatus that speeds up the performance in the auto color mode. A document reading unit reads a document and outputs image data. A document determination unit temporarily determines the document as a monochrome document when the ratio of the color components of the document is equal to or less than the monochrome threshold value at a specific timing after the document reading unit starts reading the document. An image processing unit performs monochrome image processing on the image data. A document determination unit determines that the document is a color document when the ratio of the color components of the image data is equal to or more than the color threshold value while the image processing for the monochrome document is being performed.

An application of clear protectant to a printable medium is described that allows for different amounts of protectant to be applied to the medium based on the amounts of colorant that is applied to the medium. Colorant bitmaps are analyzed to calculate an amount of colorant coverage for a medium. Printable features in the colorant bitmaps are replicated into different intermediate protectant bitmaps based on the colorant coverage for the printable features, where the intermediate protectant bitmaps specify different amounts of protectant to apply. Features in the intermediate bitmaps are expanded and replicated into a final protectant bitmap. A determination is made for the amount of protectant to apply to the medium that is based on the different amounts specified by the intermediate bitmaps.

An application of clear protectant to a printable medium is described that allows for different amounts of protectant to be applied to the medium based on the amounts of colorant that is applied to the medium. Colorant bitmaps are analyzed to calculate an amount of colorant coverage for a medium. Printable features in the colorant bitmaps are replicated into different intermediate protectant bitmaps based on the colorant coverage for the printable features, where the intermediate protectant bitmaps specify different amounts of protectant to apply. Features in the intermediate bitmaps are expanded and replicated into a final protectant bitmap. A determination is made for the amount of protectant to apply to the medium that is based on the different amounts specified by the intermediate bitmaps.

A display/input device has a display portion and a touch panel portion. The display portion displays selection keys and displays a setting screen of a selected setting item. The touch panel portion is provided for the display portion to detect a touch position of user input and a tap-and-drag operation in which while a touch is maintained the touched position is moved. When a tap-and-drag operation is detected within the display position of a selection key, the display portion displays a setting item explanation screen that explains the setting item corresponding to the selection key at the position where the tap-and-drag operation has been made.

Systems and methods for generating an image-based color palette based on a color image. A color palette can be a collection of representative colors each associated with a weight or other metadata. A color palette may be generated based on palette generation criteria, which may facilitate or control a palette generation process. Illustratively, the palette generation process may include image pre-processing, color distribution generation, representative color identification, palette candidate generation and palette determination. Representative colors with associated weight can be identified from a distribution of colors depicted by the color image, multiple palette candidates corresponding to the same color image can be generated based on various palette generation criteria, and a color palette can be identified therefrom.

Systems and methods for generating an image-based color palette based on a color image. A color palette can be a collection of representative colors each associated with a weight or other metadata. A color palette may be generated based on palette generation criteria, which may facilitate or control a palette generation process. Illustratively, the palette generation process may include image pre-processing, color distribution generation, representative color identification, palette candidate generation and palette determination. Representative colors with associated weight can be identified from a distribution of colors depicted by the color image, multiple palette candidates corresponding to the same color image can be generated based on various palette generation criteria, and a color palette can be identified therefrom.

An information processing system is disclosed. The system includes a first information processing device; and a second information processing device, the first information processing device transmitting data to the second information processing device in response to a request from the second information processing device. The first information processing device includes first storage means and transmission means. The second information processing device includes reception means, second storage means, display control means, revision parameter setting means, and image processing means.

An information processing system is disclosed. The system includes a first information processing device; and a second information processing device, the first information processing device transmitting data to the second information processing device in response to a request from the second information processing device. The first information processing device includes first storage means and transmission means. The second information processing device includes reception means, second storage means, display control means, revision parameter setting means, and image processing means.

An image inspection device detects an abnormality of a formed image by comparing imaged data obtained by imaging the formed image with original image data of the formed image. The image inspection device includes a hardware processor that: adjusts the original image data to reduce sharpness of the original image data; and detects the abnormality by comparing the adjusted original image data with the obtained imaged data. The hardware processor partly restricts the reduction of the sharpness.

A print job is analyzed to determine what page locations can use optional colors and different image quality increase values of different optional colors at the page locations are calculated. Only one of the optional colors is selected, based on which optional color produces the highest print job image quality increase for all of the page locations of the print job. Each individual page of the print job is evaluated to determine if use of the selected optional color increases image quality of the individual page to identify page exceptions. Instructions to mount a selected replaceable printing module corresponding to the selected optional color are displayed, and the print job is printed using the selected replaceable printing module.