An image reading apparatus includes an image sensor to read a document, a sensor to detect whether the document is loaded on the image reading apparatus, and a processor to, when the sensor detects the document is loaded on the image reading apparatus, and before a scan instruction is input to the image reading apparatus, control the image sensor to execute a pre-scan job with respect to the loaded document using a default set value.

A reading method guidance apparatus includes a receiving unit, an acquisition unit, and a guidance unit. The receiving unit receives a document size that is a size of a document as a reading target. The acquisition unit acquires an image of at least a partial area in the document. The guidance unit provides an operator with guidance about a reading procedure when the document is read by a first reading apparatus in plural batches, using a feature amount obtained from the acquired image, the received document size, and a readable size that is a size of an area readable by the first reading apparatus.

A document size detecting apparatus includes a first acquisition unit, a second acquisition unit, and a detector. The first acquisition unit acquires a first image that is an image of an entire document as a reading target. The second acquisition unit acquires a second image that is an image of a part of the document read by a first reading apparatus. The detector detects a size of the document using a result of a matching process between the first image and the second image and a read size that is a size of the second image read by the first reading apparatus.

An image processing apparatus capable of performing pixel synthesis processing at high speed. Synthesis processing of a first object and a second object is performed for an area where the first object and the second object overlap each other. A first image formation processor stores first pixel data, which corresponds to the area, of pixel data of the first object, in a first communication memory and stores second pixel data, which corresponds to the area, of pixel data of the second object, in a second communication memory. A second image formation processor acquires the first and second pixel data from the first and second communication memories, respectively, and performs synthesis processing of the acquired first and second pixel data.

An image reading apparatus includes an image sensor to read a document, a sensor to detect whether the document is loaded on the image reading apparatus, and a processor to, when the sensor detects the document is loaded on the image reading apparatus, and before a scan instruction is input to the image reading apparatus, control the image sensor to execute a pre-scan job with respect to the loaded document using a default set value.

A reading method guidance apparatus includes a receiving unit, an acquisition unit, and a guidance unit. The receiving unit receives a document size that is a size of a document as a reading target. The acquisition unit acquires an image of at least a partial area in the document. The guidance unit provides an operator with guidance about a reading procedure when the document is read by a first reading apparatus in plural batches, using a feature amount obtained from the acquired image, the received document size, and a readable size that is a size of an area readable by the first reading apparatus.

A document size detecting apparatus includes a first acquisition unit, a second acquisition unit, and a detector. The first acquisition unit acquires a first image that is an image of an entire document as a reading target. The second acquisition unit acquires a second image that is an image of a part of the document read by a first reading apparatus. The detector detects a size of the document using a result of a matching process between the first image and the second image and a read size that is a size of the second image read by the first reading apparatus.

An image processing apparatus capable of performing pixel synthesis processing at high speed. Synthesis processing of a first object and a second object is performed for an area where the first object and the second object overlap each other. A first image formation processor stores first pixel data, which corresponds to the area, of pixel data of the first object, in a first communication memory and stores second pixel data, which corresponds to the area, of pixel data of the second object, in a second communication memory. A second image formation processor acquires the first and second pixel data from the first and second communication memories, respectively, and performs synthesis processing of the acquired first and second pixel data.

An image reading device includes a reading member and a skew detector. The reading member reads an image of a passing document at a read position preset in a document transport path. The skew detector detects a skew of the document by selecting one of a first skew detection mode and a second skew detection mode based on information that specifies a method for detecting the skew of the document. The first skew detection mode is a mode in which the skew of the document relative to a transport direction is detected based on an image of a leading-edge section, in the transport direction, read by the reading member. The second skew detection mode is a mode in which the skew of the document relative to the transport direction is detected based on an entire image read by the reading member.

An image reading device includes a reading member and a skew detector. The reading member reads an image of a passing document at a read position preset in a document transport path. The skew detector detects a skew of the document by selecting one of a first skew detection mode and a second skew detection mode based on information that specifies a method for detecting the skew of the document. The first skew detection mode is a mode in which the skew of the document relative to a transport direction is detected based on an image of a leading-edge section, in the transport direction, read by the reading member. The second skew detection mode is a mode in which the skew of the document relative to the transport direction is detected based on an entire image read by the reading member.