A reading apparatus includes a reading device and processing circuitry. The reading device reads a recording medium. The processing circuitry outputs maintenance information based on read information read by the reading device.

An information processing apparatus includes circuitry to cause an image reading device to execute reading processing of a first color chart printed by a particular image forming apparatus of a plurality of image forming apparatuses and display, for each of the plurality of image forming apparatuses, a progress status of each stage of processing from the reading processing of the first color chart to registration processing of a profile generated based on color information data obtained by the reading processing of the first color chart.

An inspection system extracts feature points from a scan image and from a reference image, performs alignment of the scan image and the reference image based on the extracted feature points, inspects a printed material using the aligned scan and reference images, and performs processing in accordance with a method selected from among a plurality of methods including at least a first method and a second method in a case where the number of the feature points in the reference image is less than a predetermined number. The processing is performed such that, in the case where the number of the feature points in the reference image is less than the predetermined number, the alignment using at least the extracted feature points is performed when the first method is selected, and the inspection is then carried out, whereas the inspection is not carried out when the second method is selected.

A reading device includes a carriage movable in a sub-scanning direction, an optical sensor mounted on the carriage, the optical sensor being configured to scan an object placed on a contact glass, a reference scale used as a reference when a dimension of the object is computed based on an image obtained as the optical sensor scans the object, a flat gauge to be scanned by the optical sensor to calculate a corrective value used to correct the image obtained by the optical sensor, and circuitry to calculate the corrective value based on a scanned image including the reference scale and the flat gauge obtained by the optical sensor, and correct, based on the corrective value, a measurement image including an image of the object and an image of the reference scale obtained by the optical sensor and compute the dimension of the object based on the corrected measurement image.

An image forming apparatus includes an output unit, a reading unit, and a processor. The output unit outputs multiple types of charts. The reading unit reads images of the charts. The charts are output by the output unit. The processor performs multiple types of processes in a predetermined order in accordance with the images of the charts and original images used to output the charts. Each of the processes is at least one of diagnosis and adjustment. The images of the charts are obtained through the reading operation performed by the reading unit. The charts which are output by the output unit include a diagnostic chart for a spot and/or a streak and a diagnostic chart for transfer. After the processor performs a first diagnosis based on the diagnostic chart for a spot and/or a streak, the processor performs a second diagnosis based on the diagnostic chart for transfer.

An image forming apparatus having a plurality of imaging units prints, in a case that a print job received from an information processing apparatus is a print job for printing a chart for adjustment, the chart based on the print job, and decides, based on the chart, which of the plurality of imaging units is to be used to perform colorimetry of a printed product on which the chart has been printed. The image forming apparatus changes a conveyance path of the printed product to use the decided imaging unit for the colorimetry of the printed product, and notifies the information processing apparatus of a result of the colorimetry by the decided imaging unit.

Multiple measurement images are formed in a test chart. Reflected light from the test patterns is received by light receiving elements of a color sensor for an accumulation time that is determined for the respective test patterns. The lengths of the test patterns in the conveyance direction of the test chart are determined according to the lengths of the accumulation times for the respective test patterns.

A method for identifying print control elements for quality data acquisition includes encoding position information in a human-readable identification code, encoding specific print job information and the human-readable identification code in a machine-readable data code, positioning the codes alongside their associated print control element on a printing substrate, photographing the printed print control element and adjacent machine-readable data code using information from adjacent identification code, and processing data with a mobile communication device having a camera function and communications interface. Image data produced are exporting to a support computer via the communications interface. Machine-readable data code are decoded, image data on the computer are analyzed using information obtained from decoded machine-readable data code, the results of analysis are transmitted from the computer to the mobile communication device, and erroneous settings, found by image analysis, in a printing press producing printed products, are corrected.

An image inspection device includes a hardware processor executing an inspection for a first read image generated by reading a first sheet on which one image is formed, based on a reference image. When an operation for newly generating the reference image is performed in association with the inspection for the first read image, the hardware processor acquires second read images generated by respectively reading second sheets on each of which the one image is formed and generates the reference image using the inspection for the first read image. When an operation for using the generated reference image stored in a storage unit is performed in association with the inspection for the first read image, the hardware processor uses the reference image in the storage unit for the inspection for the first read image, without newly acquiring the second read images.

A color image processing apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to form a color image using recording materials of plural colors, an image processing unit configured to implement plural image processing methods that achieve plural types of pseudo-halftone representations, a color measurement unit configured to perform color measurement of the color image formed by the image forming unit, and a control unit configured to control execution of multi-color calibration in which the color measurement unit performs color measurement of a pattern image including plural multi-color patch images formed using recording materials of plural colors by using a smaller number of image processing methods than plural image processing methods used in single-color calibration for correcting reproduction characteristics of single-color images formed by the image forming unit and in which reproduction characteristics of a multi-color image formed by the image forming unit are corrected using a result of the color measurement.