A printing system includes an information processing apparatus including first circuitry and an image forming apparatus. The first circuitry is configured to receive designation of superimposing an image of a particular color on a print target image, associate the image of the particular color with the print target image in response to a reception of the designation of superimposing, and transmit print data including the print target image and the image of the particular color to the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes second circuitry configured to receive the print data and interpret the print data, and a printer engine configured to superimpose the image of the particular color on the print target image in printing, according to interpretation of the print data.

An image forming apparatus includes an image-carrying component configured to carry a colorant image including an adjustment image, a transferring component having a recess in an outer peripheral surface and configured to transfer the colorant image from the image-carrying component to a recording medium in a transfer area while rotating in such a manner as to allow a retainer that is retaining the recording medium to pass through the recess, an image-forming component configured to form the adjustment image at such a position of the image-carrying component as to face the recess of the transferring component, and a transporting component configured to cause the recording medium retained by the retainer to pass through the transfer area.

Herein is disclosed an electrostatic printing apparatus comprising: a photoconductive member having a surface on which can be created a latent electrostatic image; an intermediate transfer member comprising: a supportive portion; and an outer release layer disposed on the supportive portion comprising a base polymer matrix and an additive selected from carbon nanotubes and carbon black nanoparticles. The carbon black nanoparticles have a BET surface area of 700 m.sup.2/g or greater, the additive is dispersed in the base polymer matrix, and the base polymer is a silicone polymer. The electrostatic printing apparatus is adapted, in use, on contacting the surface of the photoconductive member with an electrostatic ink composition to form a developed toner image on the surface of the latent electrostatic image, then transfer the developed toner image to the outer release layer of intermediate transfer member, and then transfer the developed toner image from the outer release layer of the intermediate transfer member to a print substrate.

A printing system includes an information processing apparatus including first circuitry and an image forming apparatus. The first circuitry is configured to receive designation of superimposing an image of a particular color on a print target image, associate the image of the particular color with the print target image in response to a reception of the designation of superimposing, and transmit print data including the print target image and the image of the particular color to the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes second circuitry configured to receive the print data and interpret the print data, and a printer engine configured to superimpose the image of the particular color on the print target image in printing, according to interpretation of the print data.

An image formation apparatus according to an embodiment may include: a first image formation unit that forms a first toner image on a first image carrier by using a bright toner containing a bright pigment; a second image formation unit that forms a second toner image on a second image carrier by using a non-bright toner containing no bright pigment; a transfer unit that transfers the first and second toner images to a transfer body; and a controller that controls the transfer unit. The controller is configured to perform control such that a transfer efficiency of the bright toner in a case where the second toner image is superimposed to the first toner image formed on the transfer body is lower than the transfer efficiency of the bright toner in a case where the second toner image is not superimposed to the first toner image formed on the transfer body.

An image formation apparatus according to an embodiment may include: a first image formation unit that forms a first toner image on a first image carrier by using a bright toner containing a bright pigment; a second image formation unit that forms a second toner image on a second image carrier by using a non-bright toner containing no bright pigment; a transfer unit that transfers the first and second toner images to a transfer body; and a controller that controls the transfer unit. The controller is configured to perform control such that a transfer efficiency of the bright toner in a case where the second toner image is superimposed to the first toner image formed on the transfer body is lower than the transfer efficiency of the bright toner in a case where the second toner image is not superimposed to the first toner image formed on the transfer body.

When a mechanism enters a first state, an intermediate transfer member separates from a second photosensitive member. When the mechanism enters a second state, the intermediate transfer member contacts the second photosensitive member. When a first monochrome image is formed on a sheet of a first type by using toner of a first color, the mechanism enters the first state. When a second monochrome image is formed on a sheet of a second type by using toner of the first color, the mechanism enters the second state. A rotation speed of the second photosensitive member for forming the second monochrome image on the sheet of the second type is controlled to a predetermined rotation speed. The predetermined rotation speed is slower than a rotation speed of the second photosensitive member for forming the second image.

A print apparatus is disclosed. The print apparatus includes a photoconductive surface to receive a latent image representative of an image to be printed onto a printable substrate; a charging component to apply a voltage is to be applied to the photoconductive surface as the charging component moves relative to the photoconductive surface; and processing circuitry to receive data indicative of a measurement of a first current resulting from the voltage applied by the charging component; determine, responsive to detecting an increase in the measured first current relative to a reference current, the increase being greater than a first defined threshold current, that there exists a point defect under affecting the latent image; and generate instruction data responsive to determining that there exists a point defect under affecting the latent image. A method and a machine-readable medium are also disclosed.

When a mechanism enters a first state, an intermediate transfer member separates from a second photosensitive member. When the mechanism enters a second state, the intermediate transfer member contacts the second photosensitive member. When a first monochrome image is formed on a sheet of a first type by using toner of a first color, the mechanism enters the first state. When a second monochrome image is formed on a sheet of a second type by using toner of the first color, the mechanism enters the second state. A rotation speed of the second photosensitive member for forming the second monochrome image on the sheet of the second type is controlled to a predetermined rotation speed. The predetermined rotation speed is slower than a rotation speed of the second photosensitive member for forming the second image.

When a mechanism enters a first state, an intermediate transfer member separates from a second photosensitive member. When the mechanism enters a second state, the intermediate transfer member contacts the second photosensitive member. When a first monochrome image is formed on a sheet of a first type by using toner of a first color, the mechanism enters the first state. When a second monochrome image is formed on a sheet of a second type by using toner of the first color, the mechanism enters the second state. A rotation speed of the second photosensitive member for forming the second monochrome image on the sheet of the second type is controlled to a predetermined rotation speed. The predetermined rotation speed is slower than a rotation speed of the second photosensitive member for forming the second image.