JP2001133911A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device which easily forms a copy picture which satisfies individual persons having various senses as much as possible. SOLUTION: The image forming device is provided with exposure parts 4 and 5, which form a copy image on a photosensitive material 2 by irradiation of a light beam, based on an original picture, and a controller 10 which changes characteristics of the light beam, and the controller is provided with plural sensitive material data tables 35b where data for sensitive material characteristic correction generated on the basis of photosensitive characteristics of photosensitive materials are stored and plural arbitrary data tables 35c where data for arbitrary correction which are generated on the basis of tastes in picture of customer or shops and can be arbitrarily set and inputted are stored, and exposure is performed with the light beam which is adjusted by using a sensitive material data table and an arbitrary data table which are selected in accordance with the classification of a photosensitive material for use and a designated taste in picture.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having an exposure section for forming a copy image on a photosensitive material by irradiating a light beam based on an original image and a controller for changing the characteristics of the light beam. . The original image referred to here is an image formed on each frame of photographic film obtained by photographing a subject with an optical camera, or an image as digital image data obtained by scanning such a photographic film with a film scanner, It means an image as digital image data of a subject directly acquired by a digital camera or the like, an image created on a computer by computer graphics software or the like. Further, the copy image means an image created on a photosensitive material such as photographic paper using the above-mentioned original image as an original, and a typical image is a photographic print. The image forming apparatus to be formed is generally called a printer processor, and is provided in a DP shop or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional image forming apparatus is called a projection exposure type, which irradiates a photographic film with illumination light from a light source constituting an exposure section and exposes photographic paper with transmitted light transmitted through the photographic film. In this method, an image captured on a photographic film is printed on photographic paper, and a photographic print is obtained by developing the exposed photographic paper. Color adjustment of a photographic print as a duplicated image can be made by inserting and removing several filters in front of the light source.

Recently, instead of such a projection exposure type image exposure apparatus, appropriate image processing is performed on digital image data obtained by photoelectrically converting a film image or digital image data directly obtained by a digital camera. A so-called digital exposure type image exposure apparatus has also appeared, in which print data is generated by a digital exposure unit based on the print data. As the digital exposure unit, various types such as a light-modulated laser beam exposure system, a liquid crystal shutter system, a CRT exposure system, and a fluorescent beam exposure system are employed. In any case,
Such a digital exposure unit adjusts the irradiation intensity of each color of RGB in accordance with the density value of each color of each pixel constituting digital image data, and forms a dot latent image by exposing photographic paper. The exposed photographic paper has a copy image of the original image after the development processing. The color adjustment and the like of the obtained copied image can be performed by changing the density value of each color of the digital image data described above. In such a digital exposure system, not only frame images of photographic film but also image data from a digital camera and image data created by computer graphic software can be handled as original images. The range of the original image that can be handled is much larger than that of the device.

In any case, in an image forming apparatus for creating a copy image from such an original image, the reproducibility of the appearance of the image and the reproducibility of the color of a color image are important, so that the reproducibility is good. It has been adjusted to produce a duplicate image. However, even if the image forming apparatus produces a copy image in the state adjusted as described above, the customer may not always be satisfied with the standard reproducibility. In order to cope with such a case, conventionally, it has been necessary for the operator to correct the exposure conditions of each image by manual operation and adjust the exposure conditions so as to obtain a desired copy image.

[0005]

Therefore, if the operator attempts to perform the above-described adjustment operation for each image in response to the detailed requirements of the customer, the work load increases, leading to an increase in cost. There is an inconvenience that it is not possible to meet the above-mentioned customer's demands when trying to avoid the up-up. In view of the above situation, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can easily create a copy image that is as satisfying as possible for people with various sensations.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus comprising: an exposure section for forming a copy image on a photosensitive material by irradiating a light beam based on an original image; and a controller for changing characteristics of the light beam. In order to solve the problem, in the present invention, the controller includes an arbitrary data table that stores arbitrary correction data created based on customer or shop preferences and that can be arbitrarily set and input by an operator. Exposure is performed by using the adjusted light beam. In this configuration, an optional data table is prepared that can store optional correction data that can be set and input by the operator, based on the customer's or shop's image preferences, so that the customer who has requested the print order can have a predetermined preference. If image characteristics are desired, correct the desired image from the reference image to the desired image by selecting an arbitrary data table that matches the image characteristics. In the case of having unique favorite image characteristics for differentiating from the above, it is possible to correct the image to a shop unique image by selecting an arbitrary data table that meets the demand. Here, the favorite image characteristics are color tone and sharpness.

[0007] As described above, in order to respond to the customer's request and to make the shop unique, once an arbitrary data table is set, only the operation of selecting the arbitrary data table as necessary is performed. Therefore, the work load on the operator is small, and an increase in cost can be suppressed. As a result, an image forming apparatus capable of easily producing a copy image satisfying each of people having various feelings as much as possible can be provided.

In order to change the image characteristics as described above, a conventional exposure processing technique is used. For example, in a digital exposure type image forming apparatus, correction of color tone is performed for each pixel constituting digital image data. The density value of each color is changed using the arbitrary correction data stored in the arbitrary data table. For this reason, each data table is preferably LU
It is constructed in the memory space in the form of T (lookup table). On the other hand, in the image forming apparatus of the projection exposure system, the arbitrary correction data stored in the arbitrary data table changes the control amount of the dimming filter that is put in and out of the light beam path from the light source, for example. Function.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the controller includes a plurality of the arbitrary data tables and a plurality of light-sensitive material data storing light-sensitive material characteristic correction data created based on the color developing characteristics of the photosensitive material. A table is provided, and exposure is performed by a light beam adjusted using the selected arbitrary data table and the photosensitive material data table.

In an image forming apparatus for producing a copy image from an original image, as described above, the reproducibility of the appearance of the image and the color reproducibility of a color image are important. Attention must also be paid to the photosensitive characteristics of This is because the characteristics of the photosensitive material, such as photographic paper, such as the photosensitive characteristics, vary considerably depending on the type and the manufacturer, and in order to obtain a high-quality copy image, the characteristics of the photosensitive material used must be adjusted. Color correction must be performed. In a general DP shop or the like, a plurality of types of photographic papers are used. Therefore, every time a photographic paper of a different type is replaced, it is necessary to set color correction in accordance with the photosensitive characteristics. Therefore, by appropriately adjusting to obtain a good standard print image using the light-sensitive material data table, by appropriately using the above-mentioned arbitrary data table, an image according to a preference can be obtained. ,
The desired print image can be obtained exactly.

When the exposure conditions can be set in accordance with a plurality of photosensitive materials as described above and in accordance with the customer's preferences, etc., the data for setting the exposure conditions must be set in advance for all of these combinations. Although the data would be enormous if it was made, and it would take enormous cost and time to make it, it should be possible to make corrections by appropriately combining the light-sensitive material data table and the arbitrary data table as described above. Thus, the data amount can be suppressed.
The color development characteristics of the photosensitive material are based on how much the photosensitive material responds to incident light and how much the exposed photosensitive material produces a color by the development processing material. When the developing material is fixed to one type, only the type of the photosensitive material needs to be considered when setting the photosensitive material characteristic correction data in the photosensitive material data table. When a plurality of types of developing materials are used and the developing color developing characteristics are different between the developing materials, it is necessary to set them in consideration of the combination of the photosensitive material and the developing material.

Further, in a digital camera, image processing of a subject which is photoelectrically converted and obtained is subjected to considerably different image processing between models, so that color development differs considerably between models. Therefore, in a case where the original image includes image data obtained by a digital camera, in one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention,
In order to adjust the light beam, the controller further includes a plurality of camera data tables storing camera characteristic correction data created based on the color tone characteristics of the digital camera. With this configuration, after the color tone characteristics of the digital camera that created the image data are normalized by the camera characteristic correction data stored in the camera data table, that is, after the individuality of the color tone of the digital camera is lost, the standardization is performed. Since the corrected image data is corrected by using the light-sensitive material data table or the arbitrary data table, the finally obtained copied image matches the demand of the customer or the shop.

As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, if the controller is configured to determine a model of the digital camera from attribute data included in the image data and select a corresponding camera data table,
Since the camera data table is automatically set as the image data is taken in, the burden on the operator is reduced.

For the purpose of automation of the selection of the data table, a magazine for storing the photosensitive material is provided with an ID code indicating the type of the photosensitive material.
An image forming apparatus in which the controller selects an appropriate photosensitive material data table based on a D-code read signal is also proposed. Further, the controller selects an appropriate arbitrary data table based on the customer code included in the order information sent from the order receiving machine, thereby reliably providing a copy image having image characteristics preferred by the customer. be able to. Other features and advantages according to the present invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments with reference to the drawings.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIGS. 1 and 2 show an external perspective view and a block diagram of a printer processor capable of performing both projection exposure and digital exposure as one embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. I have. A reception machine 20 constructed by a panel computer is connected to the printer processor. The receiving machine 20 receives a print order from a customer and uses a software keyboard displayed on a touch panel to create order information including a customer code, a print size, the number of prints, and the like. An image input unit 20a for extracting image data from various storage media storing CG image data and image data captured by a digital camera, and has a function of transmitting the input image data to the controller 10 of the printer processor. . Of course, the function of the accepting machine 20 may be provided to the controller 10 of the printer processor.

The printer processor includes an exposure area 13 for printing an image on a photographic paper 2 which is an example of a photosensitive material cut by a paper cutter 12 in accordance with a print size, and a photographic paper exposed on the exposure area 13. 2, a film transport mechanism 8 for transporting a photographic film (hereinafter simply referred to as a film) 1, and a photographic paper 2 from a photographic paper magazine 11 through an exposure area 13 and a development processing unit 6. A photographic paper transport mechanism 9 for transporting a finished print (copied image) to the horizontal feed conveyor 7 and a sorter 14 for sorting the photographic paper 2 fed from the horizontal feed conveyor 7 on an order basis are provided. The function is realized by the controller 10
Done by The controller 10 includes a monitor 10a including a CRT or a liquid crystal display for displaying images and characters, and an operation console 10b including a keyboard for inputting various information.

In the exposure area 13 described above, a projection exposure unit 4 for projecting a frame image of the film 1 onto the photographic paper 2 and printing the image on the photographic paper 2 at a common exposure point, and a digital image of the frame image of the film 1 A digital exposure unit 5 for printing an image on the photographic paper 2 by a light beam controlled based on image data sent from the film scanner 3 for obtaining image data and digital image data input through the image input unit 20a. ing.

The photographic paper 2 is stored in a roll state in the photographic paper magazine 11, and the photographic paper magazine 11 has a photographic paper ID code 11a indicating the type of the photographic paper 2 stored therein.
Is attached, and when the photographic paper magazine 11 is mounted at a predetermined position, the photographic paper ID code 11a
The data is read by the D code reader 11b, and the read signal is sent to the controller 10.

In consideration of a relatively short exposure time and a long development time for the photographic paper 2, the photographic paper transport mechanism 9 of the printer processor includes a single line of photographic paper transport lines up to the exposure area 13 and a development processing unit 6 , Form two rows of photographic paper transport lines. Therefore, between the exposure area 13 and the developing section 6, a switch-back type sorting device 9a is provided.
And an intermediate transport section 9b for feeding the photographic paper 2 sorted in two rows to the development processing section 6 at an appropriate timing while transporting the photographic paper 2 in two rows.

This switch-back type sorting device 9a
Is passed through the photographic paper 2 once, sandwiches the rear end of the photographic paper 2, and is moved by X (horizontal direction) −Y (vertical direction) as it is, thereby being produced by the intermediate transport section 9 b. It is alternately delivered to a row of storable photographic paper transport lines.

Hereinafter, each component will be described. A film scanner 3 that illuminates the film 1 by adjusting the color distribution and intensity distribution of the generated light beam;
An imaging optical system 3b for optically processing the transmitted light beam from the film 1 and a photoelectric conversion unit 3c for photoelectrically converting the light beam guided by the imaging optical system 3b into a charge image as a slit image. Each pixel signal of the frame image of the film 1 as the original image acquired by the photoelectric conversion unit 3c is converted into a digital signal of a predetermined number of bits (for example, 12 bits) and converted into digital image data by the controller 1.
Sent to 0.

The projection exposure unit 4, which is one of the exposure units, includes an illumination optical system 4a and an exposure optical system 4b. The illumination optical system 4a includes an exposure light source, and a yellow, magenta,
Exposure light source 4 as each of the cyan filters goes out
Dimming filter 4 for adjusting the color balance of irradiation light from 1
0a and a mirror tunnel for uniformly mixing the light whose color balance has been adjusted by the light control filter 40a. The exposure optical system 4b forms a transmission image from the frame image to be printed on the photographic paper 2. A lens unit for printing, a shutter, and the like.

A digital exposure unit 5 as another exposure unit
Is composed of a line exposure type optical print head 5a and a sub-scanning mechanism 5b for moving the optical print head 5a in the sub-scanning direction, which is the direction in which the photographic paper 2 is conveyed. The optical print head 5a uses a phosphor emission method here, and a red print head composed of a vacuum fluorescent element for performing red exposure, a green print head composed of a vacuum fluorescent element for performing green exposure, and a blue print head. And a blue print head composed of vacuum fluorescent elements. The vacuum fluorescent elements of the print head of each color are linearly arrayed in the main scanning direction (the width direction of the printing paper 2) so as to have a length corresponding to the width of the printing paper 2. As the optical print head 5a, a liquid crystal shutter method, a PLZ
A T-shutter system, a FOCRT system, a DMD (digital micromirror device) system, and the like are known, and can be selected according to exposure specifications at the time of design. The sub-scanning mechanism 5b includes a moving carriage that supports the optical print head 5a, a moving mechanism that moves the moving carriage, and the like. The optical print head 5a is connected to the controller 10, and the lighting control of each vacuum fluorescent element by the controller 10 and the optical print head 5 via the sub-scanning mechanism 5b.
By moving a in the sub-scanning direction, image data and character data are color-exposed on the photographic paper 2.

As shown in FIG. 3, the controller 10
A microcomputer system including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, an I / O interface circuit and the like is configured as a core member, and various functions necessary for the printer processor are realized by hardware and / or software. The controller 10 has a function for controlling the operation of various members such as a film transport controller, a scanner controller, and a photographic paper transport controller, and forms a copy image on the photographic paper 2 by the digital exposure unit 5. An image processing unit 30 that performs various kinds of processing of image data used to control the characteristics of a light beam irradiated on the photographic paper 2 is also constructed. In addition, the photographic paper type determination unit 61 that determines the type of the photographic paper 2 loaded based on the read signal from the ID code reader 11b and the image data of the digital camera transmitted from the receiving machine 20 are attached. Camera model determination unit 6 for determining the model of the digital camera from the attribute data
2. An order information management unit 63 for managing and storing the order information (customer code, print size, number of prints, etc.) sent from the reception device 20 is also constructed. If there is no attribute data in the image data of the digital camera that identifies the model, the model received from the customer at the reception device 20 is incorporated into the corresponding image data as attribute data and sent to the controller 10.

The image processing unit 30 has a working memory 3 for temporarily storing image data sent from the accepting machine 20 and image data sent from the film scanner 3.
1. Pre-processing unit 32 that performs basic image processing such as scaling, rotation, and noise removal on image data corresponding to one original image stored in working memory 31; Primary processing unit 33 for performing level correction and the like as balance error correction, and LUT
Secondary processing for performing color matching processing to obtain desired image characteristics such as color using various data tables 35 (hereinafter referred to as "profiles") constructed in the form of (lookup tables). Processing unit 34
Is provided.

As the profile 35, a camera data table 35a (hereinafter, "camera profile 35a") is used.
), A light-sensitive material data table 35b (hereinafter, referred to as a "light-sensitive material profile 35b"), an arbitrary data table 35c (hereinafter, referred to as a "favorite profile 35c").
Is prepared. The camera profile 35a is for performing a correction for eliminating a characteristic such as a unique color recording characteristic possessed by the digital camera. For example, for a digital camera having a characteristic of having a strong reddish color, an R value of RGB values is used. Camera characteristic correction data for performing a correction in which the value is slightly reduced is stored. That is, when the image data is corrected using the camera profile 35a, the image data has a standard color balance, and the RGB values of the corrected image data are the same for the subject and the shooting environment regardless of the type of digital camera used. In such a case, the camera profile 35a is created for each model of the digital camera based on the experimental results so as to be substantially the same.

Since the photographic paper 2 has slightly different photosensitive characteristics depending on the manufacturer and the type thereof, even if the same image data is used, different colors are obtained depending on the type of photographic paper. The light-sensitive material profile 35b is provided to eliminate such inconvenience, and the image data is obtained so that the color tone obtained when using the photographic paper having the reference photosensitive characteristic can be obtained regardless of which photographic paper 2 is used. Is prepared for each type of photographic paper 2 in order to change the image quality.

When the image data subjected to the predetermined basic image processing is corrected using the above-described camera profile 35a and photosensitive material profile 35b, reference image data without any arbitrarily added features is obtained. However, ideally, image data that reproduces the color of the subject can be obtained, but a copied image having such a standard hue is not always pleasing. For example, a customer may prefer a color that is more vivid or astringent than actual, or may prefer an image with enhanced contours. Also, some DP shops may want some more distinctive image characteristics to differentiate themselves from other stores.

The preference profile 35c is used to make corrections in order to meet such demands of customers and shops, and is used for arbitrary corrections for making image data corrections necessary to create predetermined characteristic copied images. Stores data. Since many preference profiles 35c are created for each request, a profile management unit 36 for managing these preference profiles 35c is also provided. When creating a new preference profile 35c, while outputting a reference image on the monitor 10a, various image processing is performed through the console 10b to create a desired characteristic image, and this characteristic image is standardized. Correction of image data necessary to create from a typical image is obtained, and the correction is made as a new preference profile 35c by the profile management unit 36.
Register with. The same applies to the other two profiles 35a and 35b, but it is also possible to delete a profile that is no longer needed or to register a new profile through a floppy or the like.

When exposure is performed by the digital exposure unit 5,
In the secondary processing unit 34, first, the digital image data input from the film scanner 3 or the digital image data sent from the accepting machine 20 is converted into exposure data for each pixel to be exposed by the optical print head 5a. Calculation processing to be performed. The parameters used in the arithmetic processing are experimentally obtained and stored in advance so that a standard print image can be obtained when the reference photographic paper 2 is exposed by the optical print head 5a. Thereafter, if there is an instruction to use any of the profiles 35, the exposure amount data is input to the instructed profile 35,
The optical print head 5a uses the output as exposure amount data.
Exposure control. Then, the designated profile 35
Are multiple, the exposure data is obtained by linking the profiles 35 so that the output of one profile 35 becomes the input of another profile 35. The correction of the data by each profile 35 may be performed on the image data before being converted into the exposure data by the optical print head 5a.

The exposure data after the processing in the image processing unit 30 is sent to the digital exposure control unit 50, and a light beam adjusted based on the exposure data is emitted from each element of the optical print head 5b, and the printing paper is printed. A desired copy image is created by forming dots having a density corresponding to 2.

The projection exposure control section 40 calculates exposure conditions by a method known per se at the time of projection exposure, and controls an optical system such as a dimming filter 40a and a shutter based on the calculation result, whereby the film 1 is exposed. The light beam that passes through and reaches the photographic paper 2 is adjusted, and the photographic paper 2 is exposed.

Next, referring to FIG. 4, the procedure of a print process in a case where a customer A orders a photographic print at a DP shop equipped with the above-described printer processor for photographed image data obtained by a digital camera X will be described. explain.

Image data as an original image obtained by photographing a subject is stored in a flash memory together with attribute data. Mr. A, a photographer, presents the flash memory at the DP shop, writes order information including the customer name in the order form, and requests printing as a copy image. In the DP shop, order information is created using the accepting machine 20, and the stored flash memory is set in the image input unit 20a to extract image data including attribute data, and sends them to the controller 10 of the printer processor.

In the controller 10, the order information is processed by the order information management section 63, and it is ascertained, for example, that the customer name of this order is "A". Further, from the attribute data attached to the image data, the camera model determining unit 62 determines that the model of the digital camera that created the image data to be processed is “X”. At the same time, this image data is sent to the image processing unit 30,
As described above, first, the pre-processing unit 32 and the primary processing unit 33 undergo necessary image processing. Further, at the time of image processing in the secondary processing unit 35, a camera profile 35a for model: X is selected based on the model determined by the camera model determining unit 62, and image data using this camera profile 35a is selected. Correction is performed. Similarly, the photosensitive material profile 35b for the photographic paper type "M" determined from the read signal of the ID code reader 11b by the photographic paper type determining unit 61 is selected, and the image data is corrected using the photosensitive material profile 35b. Is performed.

Further, since the customer A who is the orderer of this print has already registered the desired color independently, the profile management unit 36 sets the preference for the customer name "A" which has been previously grasped. The secondary processing unit 34 selects the profile 35c, and the selected preference profile 35c
The correction of the image data using is also performed. Image data finally obtained by these image processes is sent to the digital exposure control unit 50 as exposure amount data. As a result, the print exposed to the photographic paper 2 by the optical print head 5a and obtained through the development processing by the development processing section 6 has an image having a color desired by the customer A.

Although not shown here, a customer management database accessible from this controller is provided. The customer management database includes various types of customer data using the customer code as a key together with the customer-specific information described above. A preference profile is also stored, so that search and extraction of a preference profile of a specific customer, new registration, and correction registration can be easily performed. It is also possible to register a plurality of preference profiles according to the customer's request, and to assign different preference profiles for each order or for each frame image.

In the above-described embodiment, the copy image is adjusted using various correction profiles for the exposure method using the digital exposure unit 5.
Create a similar correction profile linked to the operation of a,
This profile is used by the projection exposure control unit 40 to adjust the operation of the light control filter 40a, so that the projection exposure unit 4
The present invention can also be applied to the adjustment of a copied image according to the present invention with respect to a projection exposure method using the method.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a printer processor employing an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the printer processor according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram illustrating functions created by a controller of the printer processor.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a process of processing image data using a profile.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Photographic paper (photosensitive material) 4 Projection exposure unit (exposure unit) 5 Digital exposure unit (exposure unit) 5a Optical print head 6 Development processing unit 10 Controller 20 Receiving machine 30 Image processing unit 32 Preprocessing unit 33 Primary processing unit 34 2 Next processing unit 35 Data table 35a Camera data table 35b Sensitive material data table 35c Arbitrary data table 36 Profile management unit 40 Projection exposure control unit 40a Dimming filter 50 Digital exposure control unit 61 Printing paper type determination unit 62 Camera model determination unit 63 Order Information Management Department

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus comprising: an exposure unit that forms a copy image on a photosensitive material by irradiating a light beam based on an original image; and a controller that changes characteristics of the light beam. And an arbitrary data table that stores arbitrary correction data that can be arbitrarily set and input by an operator and that is created based on the preference of the shop or shop, and that exposure is performed using a light beam adjusted using the arbitrary data table. Image forming apparatus. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said controller comprises a plurality of said arbitrary data tables and a plurality of light-sensitive material data tables storing light-sensitive material characteristic correction data created based on the color developing characteristics of the photosensitive material. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein exposure is performed by a light beam adjusted using the arbitrary data table and the light-sensitive material data table. 3. The original image includes image data acquired by a digital camera, and the controller further stores camera characteristic correction data created based on image characteristics of the digital camera to adjust the light beam. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of camera data tables. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the controller determines a model of the digital camera from the attribute data included in the image data and selects a corresponding camera data table. 5. A magazine for storing the photosensitive material is provided with an ID code indicating the type of the photosensitive material.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller selects an appropriate photosensitive material data table based on a D code read signal. 6. The controller according to claim 1, wherein the controller selects an appropriate data table based on a customer code included in the order information sent from the order receiving machine. Image forming apparatus.