A printing apparatus includes: a mechanism transporting a print medium; a first sensor outputting a signal indicating the presence or absence of a first mark; a first determining unit determining, on a first surface, a position of a second mark and a print position of an image based on the output signal; a first print head printing the second mark and the image at the determined print positions; a second sensor outputting a signal indicating the presence or absence of the first and second marks; a second determining unit locating a position of a predetermined one of the first and second marks, based on the signal output from the second sensor, and determines, on a second surface of the print medium, a print position of a target image based on the located position of the predetermined mark; and a second print head printing the target image at the determined print position.

After printing cue marks and front surface images on the front surface of web paper by a printing station, an image data elongation-contraction processor creates corrected back surface image data based on elasticity information, and a printing station prints back surface images based on the corrected back surface image data, on the back surface of the printing medium. At this time, a page interval calculator calculates a page interval from an interval between the cue marks detected by a detector, and a difference computing unit calculates differences between the page interval and image size in a transport direction of the corrected back surface image data. Since these differences indicate shifts of the correction based on the elasticity information, optimal elasticity information can be set by revising the elasticity information with these differences through a setting unit. Consequently, the operator of the apparatus can easily set optimal elasticity information based on the differences.

After printing cue marks and front surface images on the front surface of web paper by a printing station, an image data elongation-contraction processor creates corrected back surface image data based on elasticity information, and a printing station prints back surface images based on the corrected back surface image data, on the back surface of the printing medium. At this time, a page interval calculator calculates a page interval from an interval between the cue marks detected by a detector, and a difference computing unit calculates differences between the page interval and image size in a transport direction of the corrected back surface image data. Since these differences indicate shifts of the correction based on the elasticity information, optimal elasticity information can be set by revising the elasticity information with these differences through a setting unit. Consequently, the operator of the apparatus can easily set optimal elasticity information based on the differences.

An image forming apparatus includes a reception unit that receives an instruction to place and print an image in an area of a specific shape having an aspect ratio different from an aspect ratio of a recording sheet; a print control unit performs control such that a support image is on the recording sheet, the support image supporting specification of a cut position to cut out the area of the specific shape, in which the image of which printing instruction is received by the reception unit is printed, from the recording sheet; and an output unit outputs an explanatory image that explains the cut position with respect to the support image, in a case where the reception unit receives the printing instruction.

An image forming apparatus includes a reception unit that receives an instruction to place and print an image in an area of a specific shape having an aspect ratio different from an aspect ratio of a recording sheet; a print control unit performs control such that a support image is on the recording sheet, the support image supporting specification of a cut position to cut out the area of the specific shape, in which the image of which printing instruction is received by the reception unit is printed, from the recording sheet; and an output unit outputs an explanatory image that explains the cut position with respect to the support image, in a case where the reception unit receives the printing instruction.

A printing apparatus includes: a mechanism transporting a print medium; a first sensor outputting a signal indicating the presence or absence of a first mark; a first determining unit determining, on a first surface, a position of a second mark and a print position of an image based on the output signal; a first print head printing the second mark and the image at the determined print positions; a second sensor outputting a signal indicating the presence or absence of the first and second marks; a second determining unit locating a position of a predetermined one of the first and second marks, based on the signal output from the second sensor, and determines, on a second surface of the print medium, a print position of a target image based on the located position of the predetermined mark; and a second print head printing the target image at the determined print position.

After printing cue marks and front surface images on the front surface of web paper by a printing station, an image data elongation-contraction processor creates corrected back surface image data based on elasticity information, and a printing station prints back surface images based on the corrected back surface image data, on the back surface of the printing medium. At this time, a page interval calculator calculates a page interval from an interval between the cue marks detected by a detector, and a difference computing unit calculates differences between the page interval and image size in a transport direction of the corrected back surface image data. Since these differences indicate shifts of the correction based on the elasticity information, optimal elasticity information can be set by revising the elasticity information with these differences through a setting unit. Consequently, the operator of the apparatus can easily set optimal elasticity information based on the differences.

After printing cue marks and front surface images on the front surface of web paper by a printing station, an image data elongation-contraction processor creates corrected back surface image data based on elasticity information, and a printing station prints back surface images based on the corrected back surface image data, on the back surface of the printing medium. At this time, a page interval calculator calculates a page interval from an interval between the cue marks detected by a detector, and a difference computing unit calculates differences between the page interval and image size in a transport direction of the corrected back surface image data. Since these differences indicate shifts of the correction based on the elasticity information, optimal elasticity information can be set by revising the elasticity information with these differences through a setting unit. Consequently, the operator of the apparatus can easily set optimal elasticity information based on the differences.

An image-forming apparatus contains a hardware processor for forming first and second reference marks on both surfaces of a first recording medium by using respective recorder. The first reference mark includes scale marks indicating coordinates in a position range relative to a first image-forming area, and the second reference mark includes an indicator indicating a position relative to a second image-forming area. The indicator is formed in a position indicating the relative position range as seen from a direction perpendicular to the surface of the recording medium. The hardware processor is also for implementing settings for adjusting the recording action of the recorder so that positional misalignment of the first and second image-forming areas diminishes based on coordinates inputted by an input section and indicated by the indicator. The hardware processor causes respective adjusted ordinary images to be formed on both surfaces of a second recording medium by the recorder.

A tape has one or more first areas and one or more second areas. One of the second areas is connected to each of the first areas, and is shorter than the first areas in a direction. A control unit controls to print on a first area of the tape and to cut a second area. In some examples, the tape is divided into two portions by pre-cut contours. A control unit controls to divide one of the portions into two parts and to print on at least one of the parts. Additionally or alternatively, a tape may include a first sheet and a second sheet. The second sheet pasted on the first sheet, is divided into a first area and a second area by a slit, and has a perforation line. A control unit controls to print on the second sheet, and to cut partially through the tape.