An image forming apparatus comprises: an image processor to convert image data based on a conversion condition; an image forming unit to form an image based on the converted image data using a replaceable member; a memory to store the image data and the converted image data; a sensor to perform measurement on a test image; and a controller. If the replacement of the replaceable member is detected while forming images, the controller controls the image forming unit to form the test image and generates the conversion condition based on a result of the measurement on the test image. If the replacement of the replaceable member is detected while forming the images, the controller further controls the image processor to convert the image data stored in the memory based on the generated conversion condition.

A printing apparatus corrects image data for printing on the basis of a color measurement result obtained by a sensor, prints a set of first color tone correction patches on a first sheet with a predetermined size and prints a set of a second color tone correction patches on a second sheet with the predetermined size. When the first sheet and the second sheet are printed one after another, a color measurement result of the tone correction patches printed on the first sheet and the second sheet is used in correcting the image data for printing. When the first sheet and the second sheet with the predetermined size are not printed one after another, a color measurement result of the tone correction patches printed on the first sheet and the second sheet for correcting the image data for printing is not used in correcting the image data for printing.

A verification apparatus includes a reading unit configured to read an image of a conveyed sheet. The apparatus obtains a reference image for verification of a sheet, and extracts, from the reference image, feature points to be used for alignment of an image with the reference image. The apparatus aligns, with the reference image, a read image obtained by reading an image of a verification target sheet by the reading unit, and verifies the read image by comparing the aligned read image with the reference image. Based on a number of the feature points extracted from the reference image the alignment is performed using positions of the feature points or using positions of sheet vertices each indicating a corner of the sheet.

A method is described in which a first color is detected at a user-selected arbitrary position of a first print; a second color is detected at a user-selected arbitrary position of a second print printed by a printer; a color difference between the first color and the second color is determined; and settings of the printer are changed to reduce the color difference in further prints printed by the printer.

A method of operating an image forming apparatus includes receiving a request to perform an image forming operation, performing a calibration operation based on obtained urgency level information in response to the request, when a condition to perform a calibration is determined to be satisfied, the urgency level indicating a level of urgency to perform the image forming operation and the calibration is to standardize standardizing color representation of the image to be formed, and performing the image forming operation after the calibration operation is performed.

An image processing apparatus includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire first image data indicating a reference image as a target print result, and second image data indicating a target image to be inspected, and a processing unit configured to inspect the target image by performing a correction on a second partial region adjacent to a first partial region to enhance the second partial region relative to a difference image representing a difference between the reference image and the target image based on the first image data and the second image data, the first partial region having a difference in between the reference image and the target image.

An image formation system includes an image forming apparatus and an inserter. The image forming apparatus includes an image forming device, a conveyance device, and a control device. The control device functions as a controller and an executor. The controller allows the inserter to insert an interleaving paper between sheets of printed material at an insertion start timing specified by a print job. When the plurality of calibrations include a second calibration capable of being completed within an interleaving paper insertion time required to insert the interleaving paper or a third calibration capable of being completed within a total time of the interleaving paper insertion time and a predetermined additional time, the executor executes the second calibration or the third calibration in time with the insertion start timing.

A printing apparatus causes a printer engine to print first tone correction patches of a first color on a first sheet and to print second tone correction patches of a second color being different from the first color on a second sheet, generate correction information based on a color measurement result of the first tone correction patches and the second tone correction patches printed on the first sheet and the second sheet, respectively, as measured by a sensor, and correct image data using the correction information. In the generation of the correction information, in a case where there are more than a predetermined number of sheets of a size being different from a predetermined size between the first sheet and the second sheet, the correction information using the color measurement result of the first tone correction patches and the second tone correction patches is not generated.

The invention relates to a method for online quality control of decorative prints on substrate materials, including similarity comparisons of actual and target images and adjusting decorative prints if deviations of color values are detected. The method may include the steps of: a) producing a hyperspectral digital image of a print decoration; b) calibrating the print decoration via a hyperspectral digital image; c) producing and storing a digital target image of the print decoration; d) creating a first print decoration on a first substrate material; e) producing and storing a digital actual image of the printed decoration on the first substrate material; f) determining color deviations between the digital target image and the digital actual image via a computer program; and g) printing on at least one side of substrate materials so as to form a decorative layer. The invention also relates to a device for carrying out the method.

An information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a storage medium that execute density characteristics acquisition processing at an appropriate timing are provided.