An image forming apparatus includes a printhead configured to add energy to an image material; and a control unit configured to output, based on image data, a signal pattern for controlling energy to be added by the printhead to the image material including a plurality of color development layers that have different color development characteristic and develop colors in accordance with the added energy. When causing at least two of the plurality of color development layers to develop colors, the control unit generates, based on at least two signal patterns generated to cause the at least two color development layers to develop colors, a signal pattern of an OR of the at least two signal patterns and outputs the signal pattern.

Printers comprising a plurality of imaging units are described. In an example, each imaging unit selectively deposits at least one printing substance and an intermediate transfer member cooperates with the imaging units such that, in use of the printer, a printable image may be formed thereon, the printable image comprising printing substance from at least two imaging units.

An image forming apparatus includes a first image forming unit that forms a metallic-color toner image having a metallic color, a second image forming unit that forms a non-metallic-color toner image having a color different from the metallic color, and a transfer unit that transfers the toner images onto a recording material so that the non-metallic-color toner image is superimposed on an upper side of the metallic-color toner image on the recording material.

An image forming apparatus includes: a transfer unit that faces an image holding unit and is configured to come into contact with and separate from the image holding unit with a continuous form paper continuous in a transport direction interposed between the transfer unit and the image holding unit and to transfer an image held by the image holding unit onto the continuous form paper; a displacement unit that displaces the continuous form paper to a position closer to the image holding unit when the transfer unit separates from the image holding unit; and a contact portion that contacts the continuous form paper from a downstream side in a displacement direction before the continuous form paper displaced by the displacement unit contacts the image holding unit.

An image forming apparatus superimposes a plurality of color images each formed of a single-color developer to form a superimposed color image. The image forming apparatus includes a transfer belt and processing circuitry. The processing circuitry forms, as a correction pattern, combination patterns arranged along a conveyance direction of the color images and including a first pattern, a second pattern, and a third pattern. A formation interval of the first pattern constituting one combination pattern is shorter than a formation interval between one horizontal line of the first pattern constituting the one combination pattern and another horizontal line of the first pattern constituting another combination pattern. The one horizontal line is opposite the other horizontal line.

An image forming apparatus superimposes a plurality of color images each formed of a single-color developer to form a superimposed color image. The image forming apparatus includes a transfer belt and processing circuitry. The processing circuitry forms, as a correction pattern, combination patterns arranged along a conveyance direction of the color images and including a first pattern, a second pattern, and a third pattern. A formation interval of the first pattern constituting one combination pattern is shorter than a formation interval between one horizontal line of the first pattern constituting the one combination pattern and another horizontal line of the first pattern constituting another combination pattern. The one horizontal line is opposite the other horizontal line.

A protruding portion protruding in a rotation axis direction of an image bearing member is provided at a position between the tip of a separation claw and an apex of the separation claw, when the apex of the separation claw is disposed at a position farthest from the surface of the image bearing member in a direction perpendicular to a straight line connecting the tip and the rotation center of a shaft portion of the separation claw.

An image forming apparatus includes a printhead configured to add energy to an image material; and a control unit configured to output, based on image data, a signal pattern for controlling energy to be added by the printhead to the image material including a plurality of color development layers that have different color development characteristic and develop colors in accordance with the added energy. When causing at least two of the plurality of color development layers to develop colors, the control unit generates, based on at least two signal patterns generated to cause the at least two color development layers to develop colors, a signal pattern of an OR of the at least two signal patterns and outputs the signal pattern.

An image forming apparatus includes a first plurality of image forming sections that form a first toner image for adjustment and transfer the first toner image for adjustment to a medium; a second plurality of image forming sections that form a second toner image for adjustment and transfer the second toner image for adjustment to the medium; and a detection device configured to detect a misregistration between the first toner image for adjustment transferred to the medium and the second toner image for adjustment transferred to the medium.

A protruding portion protruding in a rotation axis direction of an image bearing member is provided at a position between the tip of a separation claw and an apex of the separation claw, when the apex of the separation claw is disposed at a position farthest from the surface of the image bearing member in a direction perpendicular to a straight line connecting the tip and the rotation center of a shaft portion of the separation claw.