An information processing system includes a processor configured to acquire verification data of an inspection target object consisting of plural media after image formation, and images scanned from the inspection target object by an image scanning portion, and verify at least one of a defect in a direction or a defect in an order of the images of the inspection target object based on the images scanned by the image scanning portion and on the verification data.

The inspection apparatus performs first image processing on image data used in printing the image, and stores image data for which the first image processing has been performed as a reference image. The inspection apparatus determines whether a first reference image corresponding to a reference image that can be used in a job to be inspected is stored, and if it is determined that the corresponding first reference image is stored, performs second image processing on the first reference image to convert the first reference image into a second reference image corresponding to the job. The inspection apparatus obtains a scanned image by reading an image of paper on which printing has been performed according to the job and performs processing for matching the obtained scanned image and the second reference image.

An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium; plural sound detection units that detect a sound of the image forming unit; and a specifying unit that specifies an abnormality of the image forming unit based on information output from the plural sound detection units, in which the specifying unit is provided in a number less than the number of plural sound detection units.

A computer implemented method for proof-of-work for generating and validating a block of a blockchain using at least one printing device is proposed. The printing device is configured for generating at least one digital image depending on a printer control setting. The method comprises the following steps: i) (110) providing an initial digital image (112) comprising a plurality of colored pixels, wherein the initial digital image (110) is taken from an image database and/or is generated by printing and scanning the initial digital image by using an initial printer control setting; ii) (114) providing a task digital image (116) comprising a plurality of colored pixels different from the initial digital image (112); iii) (118) selecting a mining printer control setting (120), printing the initial digital image (112) by using the printing device by blending pigments with the selected mining printer control setting (120) and scanning the printed image by using at least one scanning device, thereby generating a mining digital image (122) having a plurality of colored pixels different from the initial digital image (112); iv) (124) comparing the colored pixels of the mining digital image (122) and the task digital image (116) by using at least one processing device; wherein the method comprises repeating steps ii) (114) to iv) (124) until the colored pixels of the mining digital image (122) and the task digital image (116) are found to be identical, wherein in each case in step iii) (118) a different mining printer control setting (120) is selected, wherein the mining printer control setting (120) for which the mining digital image (122) and the task digital image (116) are found to be identical is used as the proof-of-work for generating and validating the block of the blockchain.

An information processing apparatus obtains reference image data used for printing of a printed material, and obtains an image quality inspection result obtained by comparing read image data obtained by reading the printed material and the reference image data. The information processing apparatus also displays, on a display unit, an inspection result screen in accordance with the inspection result. A first region for displaying an entire image corresponding to read image data for a predetermined page among pages read from printed material is included in the inspection result screen. Furthermore, the inspection result screen includes a second region in which a normal enlarged image obtained by enlarging a normal image based on reference image data and an abnormal enlarged image obtained by enlarging an abnormal image based on the read image data are displayed in association for each abnormal portion included in the entire image.

An example image forming apparatus includes a print module, a scanning module, a processor, and a memory to store at least one instruction executable by the processor. The processor is to execute the at least one instructions to obtain remaining amount information about the remaining amount of the toner or ink, control the print module to output a first printout using print data, control the scanning module to obtain a printout image by scanning the first printout, identify a quality of the first printout based on the output image and the print data, and obtain cartridge status information based on the identified quality of the first output and the remaining amount information.

A method for controlling production of color products includes receiving a reference image for a color product; producing a plurality of color products corresponding to the color product in the reference image; acquiring a plurality of images corresponding to the plurality of color products; determining whether an appearance defect exists for each of the plurality of color products by comparing each image of the plurality of images corresponding to the plurality of color products to the reference image; for each detected appearance defect, determining a severity of the appearance defect; generating a visualization of appearance defects on an image of the color product based on the severity of the appearance defect and a frequency of occurrence of the appearance defect; and adjusting production of the color product in response to the visualization of appearance defects to reduce the severity or frequency of occurrence of the appearance defect.