An image forming device includes: an image former that executes image forming processing to form an image on a sheet; a primary controller; a secondary controller that controls the image former; a sensor that detects a state of the image former and transmits sensor data indicating the state to the secondary controller; a first transmission path between the secondary controller and the primary controller; and a second transmission path different from the first transmission path. The primary controller instructs the secondary controller to execute the image forming processing. Data related to the execution of the image forming processing is transmitted through the first transmission path. The secondary controller generates diagnostic data for failure diagnostics from the sensor data and life prediction relating to the image forming device and transmits the diagnostic data to the primary controller via the second transmission path.

An image forming apparatus performs a first preparation operation in a full color mode when power is supplied. The apparatus performs, when an image formation request is inputted after the first preparation operation completes, a second preparation operation in a designated color mode in accordance with the image formation request. When an image formation request is inputted during the first preparation operation, the apparatus skips the second preparation operation and performs image formation after the first preparation operation completes.

An image forming apparatus performs a first preparation operation in a full color mode when power is supplied. The apparatus performs, when an image formation request is inputted after the first preparation operation completes, a second preparation operation in a designated color mode in accordance with the image formation request. When an image formation request is inputted during the first preparation operation, the apparatus skips the second preparation operation and performs image formation after the first preparation operation completes.

A system in an embodiment includes an image forming apparatus, an erasing apparatus, a first apparatus, and a display unit. The image forming apparatus forms an image on a sheet using a decolorable color material. The erasing apparatus decolorizes an image. The first apparatus computes, from a reduction in the number of sheets achieved by a setting for image formation in the image forming apparatus, the amount of a reduction in environmental burdens achieved by use of the image forming apparatus and computes, from the number of sheets erased by the erasing apparatus, the amount of a reduction in environmental burdens achieved by use of the erasing apparatus. The display unit simultaneously displays the amount of the reduction in environmental burdens achieved by the image forming apparatus and the amount of the reduction in environmental burdens achieved by the erasing apparatus.

A system in an embodiment includes an image forming apparatus, an erasing apparatus, a first apparatus, and a display unit. The image forming apparatus forms an image on a sheet using a decolorable color material. The erasing apparatus decolorizes an image. The first apparatus computes, from a reduction in the number of sheets achieved by a setting for image formation in the image forming apparatus, the amount of a reduction in environmental burdens achieved by use of the image forming apparatus and computes, from the number of sheets erased by the erasing apparatus, the amount of a reduction in environmental burdens achieved by use of the erasing apparatus. The display unit simultaneously displays the amount of the reduction in environmental burdens achieved by the image forming apparatus and the amount of the reduction in environmental burdens achieved by the erasing apparatus.

A hierarchical printhead system supports multiple print modes. A first print mode uses a first subset of light sources having a first spacing. A second print mode uses a second subset of light sources having a second spacing which is less than the first spacing. Image data for lines of image data are sequentially loaded into the printhead, wherein if the specified print mode is the first print mode, image data for a first group of light sources corresponding to the first subset are loaded, and if the specified print mode is the second print mode, image data for the first group of light sources are first loaded, and then image data for a second group of light sources corresponding to the light sources in the second subset that are not in the first subset are loaded.

A hierarchical printhead system supports multiple print modes. A first print mode uses a first subset of light sources having a first spacing. A second print mode uses a second subset of light sources having a second spacing which is less than the first spacing. Image data for lines of image data are sequentially loaded into the printhead, wherein if the specified print mode is the first print mode, image data for a first group of light sources corresponding to the first subset are loaded, and if the specified print mode is the second print mode, image data for the first group of light sources are first loaded, and then image data for a second group of light sources corresponding to the light sources in the second subset that are not in the first subset are loaded.

An image forming apparatus includes: a determination section configured to determine whether there is a possibility of generation of an image defect during a printing job for image formation on a plurality of pages based on image data included in the printing job; and a changing section configured to change an order of the pages to be subjected to image formation such that an image defect is not generated when the determination section determines that there is a possibility of generation of the image defect.

An image forming apparatus includes: a determination section configured to determine whether there is a possibility of generation of an image defect during a printing job for image formation on a plurality of pages based on image data included in the printing job; and a changing section configured to change an order of the pages to be subjected to image formation such that an image defect is not generated when the determination section determines that there is a possibility of generation of the image defect.

A print engine is adapted to print image data from a plurality of pre-processing systems that supply image data at different image resolutions and halftoning states. A data interface receives the image data and associated metadata including an image resolution parameter and a halftone state parameter. A metadata interpreter interprets the metadata and determines image processing operations that are required to prepare the image data for printing using a printer module. A resolution modification processor module processes the image data to modify its resolution if the metadata interpreter determines that the image resolution of the image data does not match the printer resolution. A halftone processor module processes the image data by applying a halftoning operation if the metadata interpreter determines that the image data is not in an appropriate halftoning state.