JP2007017660A - Image forming apparatus and image forming program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To print a composite image obtained by superposing a plurality of images by setting paper once while shortening processing time without utilizing an expensive memory medium or complicated software. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus 1 printing the composite image obtained by superposing a plurality of original images to be composed has: a printing part 8 having an intermediate transfer body where a toner image is formed based on image data; and a composing processing part 10 repeating operation that the toner image of the color shown by the image data of each original image to be composed is superposed and formed on the intermediate transfer body for every color and designating the printing part 8 to transfer the toner image of the composite image formed on the intermediate transfer body to a transfer sheet. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and an image forming program.

Conventionally, two images are read, and these read images are combined and printed on one sheet of paper. FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between resolution and gradation value and data in image data. As shown in FIG. 8A, since the resolution corresponds to the print dots, the resolution and the data amount are always proportional. However, as shown in FIG. 8B, the gradation value does not have a one-to-one correspondence between the data amount and the print dots. Therefore, in order to superimpose and print image data with different resolutions and gradation values, the other image data is converted in accordance with the image data of either resolution or gradation value, and the image data of the composite image is converted. Processing to generate was necessary.
On the other hand, there is an image forming apparatus that arbitrarily selects a composition target document image from a format document image and an input document image and combines the document density, document size, and document image centering when the composition target document image is combined. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1). There are also image forming apparatuses that synthesize images on an intermediate transfer belt (see, for example, Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3).
JP-A-2005-190156 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 7-38716 JP-A-8-314329

  As described above, in the prior art, in order to superimpose and print image data with different resolutions and gradation values, the other image data is converted in accordance with the image data with either resolution or gradation value. However, a process for generating image data of a composite image is necessary. Therefore, an expensive memory medium such as an HDD (hard disk) or complicated software has to be prepared in the image forming apparatus for this processing. However, even if such a memory medium or software is prepared, a composite image may not be output in the case of image data having different resolutions and gradation values. In this case, in order to print the images in a superimposed manner, it is necessary to manually set the paper on which the composite original image has been printed once again in the image forming apparatus and to print another composite original image in an overlapping manner. When an image is synthesized on an intermediate transfer member such as an intermediate transfer belt, the synthesized image can be printed using image data having different resolutions and gradation values without special image processing. However, the composition of the image on the intermediate transfer member has to repeat the image forming process on the intermediate transfer belt by the number of images of the composition original image, and the processing time becomes longer than the case of processing electronically. End up.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to overlap a plurality of images with a single paper set without using an expensive memory medium such as an HDD or complicated software. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus and an image forming program capable of printing a combined composite image with a reduced processing time.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the present invention is an image forming apparatus that prints a composite image obtained by superimposing a plurality of composite original images, and includes a printing unit including an intermediate transfer member that forms a toner image based on image data. For each color, the toner image of the composite image formed on the intermediate transfer member is repeatedly formed by repeatedly forming the toner image of the color indicated by the image data of each composite original image on the intermediate transfer member. And an image processing apparatus for instructing the printing means to transfer the image to a transfer sheet.

  In addition, the present invention is an image forming apparatus that prints a composite image obtained by superimposing a plurality of composite original images, and includes a printing unit that includes an intermediate transfer member that forms a toner image based on image data, and a composite original image When the resolution and gradation indicated by the image data are the same, the image data generation means for generating image data of the composite image from the image data of the composite original image, and the resolution or gradation indicated by the image data of the composite original image In the case where the images are different from each other, the printing unit is configured to form a toner image of each of a plurality of composition original images on the intermediate transfer member and transfer the toner image of the composite image formed on the intermediate transfer member onto a transfer sheet. And an image forming apparatus characterized by comprising:

  Further, the present invention is the above-described image forming apparatus, wherein the composition processing unit forms a toner image of each color indicated by image data of a plurality of composition original images on the intermediate transfer member, and the intermediate transfer The printing unit is instructed to transfer a toner image of a composite image formed on the body onto a transfer sheet.

  Further, the present invention is the image forming apparatus described above, wherein the synthesizing unit forms, for each color, a toner image of the color indicated by the image data of each of the synthesis source images on the intermediate transfer member. The printing unit is instructed to transfer the toner image of the composite image formed on the intermediate transfer member to a transfer sheet.

  The present invention also provides an image forming program for use in an image forming apparatus that includes a printing unit having an intermediate transfer member that forms a toner image based on image data and prints a composite image obtained by superimposing a plurality of composite original images. And repeating the formation of the toner image of the color indicated by the image data of each of the composition original images on the intermediate transfer member for each color, and the composite image formed on the intermediate transfer member. An image forming program for causing a computer to execute a composition processing step for instructing the printing unit to transfer a toner image onto a transfer sheet.

  The present invention also provides an image forming program for use in an image forming apparatus that includes a printing unit having an intermediate transfer member that forms a toner image based on image data and prints a composite image obtained by superimposing a plurality of composite original images. An image data generating step for generating image data of the composite image from the image data of the composite original image when the resolution and gradation indicated by the image data of the composite original image are the same, and an image of the composite original image When the resolution or gradation indicated by the data is different, each of the image data of a plurality of composition original images is formed on the intermediate transfer member and the toner image of the composite image formed on the intermediate transfer member is transferred. An image forming program for causing a computer to execute a composition processing step for instructing the printing means to transfer to a sheet.

According to the invention, for each color, the toner image of the color indicated by the image data of each composition original image is repeatedly formed on the intermediate transfer body, and the image is synthesized on the intermediate transfer body. Even when the resolution and gradation of the image data of the composition source image are different, a composite image in which a plurality of composition source images are superimposed is printed by one paper setting without performing special image processing. Can do. As described above, since the synthesized image can be printed without changing the resolution and gradation of the image data of the synthesized original image and generating the image data of the synthesized image electronically, an expensive HDD or the like is required. There is no need to prepare a memory medium or complicated software, and the quality of the composite image is improved. In addition, when forming color images on the intermediate transfer member in an overlapping manner, the toner images of the respective colors obtained by color separation from a plurality of composition original images are overlapped for each color, so that the color switching operation may be reduced. This makes it possible to improve the printing processing time.
If the resolution and gradation of the image data of the composition source image are the same, the image of the composition image is generated only when electronic image composition is easy by electronically generating and printing the image data of the composition image. Data can be generated and processing time can be reduced.

Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 of the embodiment. In this figure, the control unit 2 controls the overall processing operation of the image forming apparatus 1. The input unit 3 includes a numeric keypad, function keys, a touch panel, and the like. The display unit 4 is composed of a liquid crystal display or the like. The image reading unit 5 is configured by a scanner or the like, and generates image data by reading a document on a document table. The image memory 6 stores image data. The communication unit 7 receives print data from the host computer. The printing unit 8 performs printing on paper. The conveyance control unit 9 controls the conveyance of the sheet in the printing unit 8 and controls the sheet interval when continuously feeding. The composition processing unit 10 instructs the printing unit 8 to print a composite image obtained by superimposing a plurality of composition original images. The image data generation unit 11 generates image data of a composite image from image data of a plurality of composite original images.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of the image forming apparatus 1 and shows the configuration of the printing unit 8. In FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus 1 includes a photosensitive drum 51, developing units 52a to 52d disposed around the photosensitive drum 51, an intermediate transfer drum 60 that is a drum-shaped intermediate transfer body, and a secondary transfer disposed around the drum. It is disposed between the conveyance belt 73 and the vertical conveyance path 75, and a paper conveyance system including a roller 61, a paper feed cassette 71, a registration roller pair 72, a conveyance belt 73, a vertical conveyance path 75, a paper discharge tray 76, and the like. The fixing unit 74 and the digel heater 80 installed below the secondary transfer roller 61 are disposed in the housing 40 in a predetermined positional relationship.

  The photosensitive drum 51 is a drum-shaped photosensitive member having a photosensitive member made of amorphous silicon (a-Si), and around the photosensitive drum 51, developing devices 52a to 52d having developing sleeves 53a to 53d. An intermediate transfer drum 60 is disposed. The developing sleeves 53a to 53d have a positive triboelectric charge polarity with respect to the carrier, and 5 parts by weight of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toner having a volume average particle diameter of 8 μm and a ferrite carrier 100 having a weight average particle diameter of 70 μm. Developers mixed with parts by weight are respectively carried. The photosensitive drum 51, the developing sleeves 53a to 53d, and the intermediate transfer drum 60 are each rotated in the direction of arrow A in the drawing to form an image.

  In the above configuration, the amorphous silicon (a-Si) photoconductor on the photoconductive drum 51 is uniformly charged to about +400 [V], and light corresponding to image data is irradiated by an exposure unit (not shown). An electrostatic latent image is formed thereon. At this time, the surface potential of the a-Si photosensitive member after exposure is about +10 [V]. The intermediate transfer drum 60 has a three-layer structure of an aluminum base tube as an inner layer, a conductive rubber layer as an intermediate layer, and a fluororesin layer as a surface layer, and has an outer diameter of 150 mm. The conductive rubber layer is a urethane rubber layer having a thickness of 8 mm, and the volume resistivity is adjusted to 3 × 10 7 Ω · cm by dispersing carbon. The surface fluororesin layer is PTFE having a thickness of 100 μm, and the volume resistivity is adjusted to 8 × 10 9 Ω · cm by dispersing carbon.

  An alternating electric field (Vdc = 160 [V], Vpp = 1.0 [kV], f = 3.6 [kHz]) is applied between the photosensitive drum 51 and the developing sleeve 53a to expose the photosensitive member. The toner image is developed on the portion. Next, a bias of +350 V is applied to the base tube of the photoconductive drum 51 to generate a potential difference with the intermediate transfer drum 60 grounded to the ground through the inner layer aluminum base tube, and the toner image on the surface of the photoconductive drum. Is transferred to the intermediate transfer drum 60. Similarly, the toner image by the developing device 52b is transferred to the intermediate transfer drum 60, and similarly transferred to the developing device 52c, the developing device 52d and the intermediate transfer drum 60, and then transferred onto the paper, thereby transferring the color toner image. Form. Each time the transfer of each color toner to the intermediate transfer drum 60 is completed, the untransferred residual toner on the surface of the photosensitive drum 51 is removed and the photosensitive drum 51 returns to a clean state.

  As described above, as the toner image is formed on the surface of the intermediate transfer drum 60 and the leading edge approaches the transfer position, the paper stored in the paper feed cassette 71 is fed at 134 mm / sec. Then, the timing is adjusted by the registration roller pair 72 and passes through the transfer region between the secondary transfer roller 61 and the intermediate transfer drum 60. The secondary transfer roller 61 is applied with a negative transfer voltage, and is controlled by a constant current method so that a transfer current of 20 μA flows in the color mode and 15 μA in the monochrome mode flows in the sheet direction of the paper.

  At that time, the toner image on the surface of the intermediate transfer drum 60 is transferred to the sheet, and the sheet is conveyed on the conveying belt 73 and reaches the fixing unit 74. The sheet on which the toner image has been fixed by passing through the fixing unit 74 is discharged to the discharge tray 76 via the vertical conveyance path 75. After the toner image is transferred to the sheet, the intermediate transfer drum 60 is returned to a clean state by removing untransferred toner by a cleaning blade or a fur brush.

  Below the secondary transfer roller 61, a planar digel heater 80 is attached in the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 51 so as to be substantially the same as the length of the photosensitive drum 51. The digel heater 80 prevents an image flow phenomenon due to moisture adsorption on the intermediate transfer drum 60 and the photosensitive drum 51, and has a rated power of 10 W and a surface temperature of about 70 ° C.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a composite image of images.
In the figure, a composition original image A and a composition original image B are shown, and an image obtained by superimposing these is a composite image C. The image forming apparatus 1 prints the composite image C from the image data of the composition source image A and the image data of the composition source image B. In the figure, a case where two synthesis source images are synthesized is shown, but the number of synthesis source images may be three or more.

Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 will be described. Here, it is assumed that the composite image C of the composite original image A and the composite original image B shown in FIG.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a process flow of the composite image printing process of the image forming apparatus 1. In the figure, first, the image forming apparatus 1 stores the image data of the composition source image generated by the image reading unit 5 in the image memory 6 (step S110). That is, the image reading unit 5 reads the composition original image A and generates image data. The generated image data of the composition original image A is written into the image memory 6. Further, the image reading unit 5 reads the composite original image B and generates image data. Similarly, the generated image data of the composition original image B is written in the image memory 6.

  Next, the composition processing unit 10 refers to the image data of the composition original images A and B stored in the image memory 6 and determines whether the resolution and the gradation value indicated in the image data match. Determination is made (step S115). When the composition processing unit 10 determines that the resolutions and gradation values of the image data of the composition source images A and B do not match (step S115: NO), the composition source image is used as the image data of the first composition source image. The image data A is read (step S120). The composition processing unit 10 instructs the printing unit 8 to transfer the toner image to the intermediate transfer drum 60 using the image data of the composition source image A (step S125).

  Subsequently, the composition processing unit 10 determines whether there is a next composition source image to be composed (step S130). The composition processing unit 10 determines that there is a composition source image B as the next composition source image (step S130: YES), and reads the image data of the composition source image B from the image memory 6 (step S135). The composition processing unit 10 instructs the printing unit 8 to transfer the toner image to the intermediate transfer drum 60 using the image data of the composition source image B (step S125).

  Subsequently, the composition processing unit 10 determines whether there is a next composition source image (step S130). The composition processing unit 10 determines that there is no next composition original image because the transfer processing to the intermediate transfer drum 60 using the image data of the composition original images A and B has been completed (step S130: NO). The printing unit 8 is instructed to transfer to a sheet (step S140). In the printing unit 8, the toner image on the surface of the intermediate transfer drum 60, that is, the toner image of the composite image C is transferred onto the paper. The sheet is transported on the transport belt 73 and the toner image is fixed by the fixing unit 74, and then discharged to the discharge tray 76 via the vertical transport path 75 (step S145). Thereby, the sheet on which the composite image C is printed is discharged.

  On the other hand, when it is determined in step S115 that the resolution and the gradation value of the image data of the composition source image A and the composition source image B match (step S115: YES), the composition processing unit 10 displays the image data generation unit. 11 is instructed to generate image data of the composite image. The image data generation unit 11 reads the image data of the synthesis source image A and the synthesis source image B from the image memory 6 and generates the image data of the synthesis image C (step S150). The composition processing unit 10 instructs the printing unit 8 to transfer the toner image to the intermediate transfer drum 60 using the image data of the composite image C (step S155). After completion of the transfer process, the composition processing unit 10 instructs the printing unit 8 to transfer to a sheet (step S140). As a result, the toner image on the surface of the intermediate transfer drum 60, that is, the toner image of the composite image C is transferred onto the paper, and after the toner image is fixed, it is discharged to the paper discharge tray 76 (step S145).

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a processing flow of toner image transfer processing to the intermediate transfer drum 60 in steps S125 and S155 of FIG. First, the composition processing unit 10 selects a color to be transferred first, for example, yellow (step S210). Then, with reference to the image data on which the toner image is to be formed, it is determined whether or not the selected color yellow is used (step S215). When yellow is used, the yellow toner image indicated by the image data is transferred to the intermediate transfer drum 60 (step S220).

  Subsequently, the composition processing unit 10 determines whether the processing has been completed for all colors (step S225). Since the composition processing unit 10 has not finished the processing for all the colors (step S225: NO), the composition processing unit 10 selects the next color, for example, magenta (step S230). Then, with reference to image data on which a toner image is to be formed, it is determined whether or not magenta which is the selected color is used (step S215). When magenta is used, the magenta toner image indicated by the image data is transferred to the intermediate transfer drum 60 by the developing sleeve 53b corresponding to the magenta (step S220).

  Then, the composition processing unit 10 determines that the processing has not been completed for all colors (step S225: NO), selects cyan and black (step S230), and performs the processing of steps S215 to S225. . When the composition processing unit 10 determines that the process has been completed for all colors (step S225: YES), the transfer process to the intermediate transfer drum 60 is ended.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a processing flow of the composite image printing process of the image forming apparatus 1 according to another embodiment. In the above-described embodiment, for each image data of the compositing original image, the toner image of each color indicated by the image data is repeatedly formed on the intermediate transfer drum 60, and the composite image formed on the intermediate transfer member However, in another embodiment, the toner image of the color indicated by the image data of each composition original image is formed on the intermediate transfer drum 60 for each color. The toner image of the composite image formed on the intermediate transfer member is repeatedly transferred onto a sheet.

  In the figure, the image forming apparatus 1 stores the image data of the composition source image generated by the image reading unit 5 in the image memory 6 and determines whether or not the resolution and the gradation value match. Step S315 is the same as Step S110 to Step S115 in FIG. 4, and Step S335 and subsequent steps when it is determined in Step S315 that the resolution and the gradation value of the image data of the composition source image match. The processing is the same as the processing after step S150 in FIG.

  In step S315, when the composition processing unit 10 determines that the resolution and the gradation value of the image data of the composition original images A and B do not match (step S315: NO), the composition processing unit 10 determines that the color of each color to the intermediate transfer drum 60 is different. Instruct the printing unit 8 to transfer the toner image (step S320). After completion of the transfer process, the composition processing unit 10 instructs the printing unit 8 to transfer to a sheet (step S325). As a result, the toner image on the surface of the intermediate transfer drum 60, that is, the toner image of the composite image C is transferred onto the paper, and after the toner image is fixed, it is discharged to the paper discharge tray 76 (step S330).

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a processing flow of toner image transfer processing for each color onto the intermediate transfer drum 60 in step S320 of FIG. In the figure, the composition processing unit 10 selects a color to be transferred first, for example, yellow (step S410). Then, the image data of the composition source image A as the first composition source image among the image data to form the toner image is read from the image memory 6 (step S415). The composition processing unit 10 refers to the image data of the composition source image A and determines whether or not the selected color yellow is used (step S420). When yellow is used, the yellow toner image indicated by the image data of the composition source image A is transferred to the intermediate transfer drum 60 (step S425).

  Subsequently, the composition processing unit 10 determines whether there is a next composition source image to be composed (step S430). The composition processing unit 10 determines that there is a composition source image B as the next composition source image (step S430: YES), and reads the image data of the composition source image B from the image memory 6 (step S435). The composition processing unit 10 refers to the image data of the composition source image B and determines whether or not the selected color yellow is used (step S420). When yellow is used, the yellow toner image indicated by the image data of the composition source image B is transferred to the intermediate transfer drum 60 (step S425).

  When the composition processing unit 10 determines that the transfer of the yellow toner image has been completed for the image data of all the composition original images (step 430: YES), it subsequently determines whether the processing has been completed for all colors. Judgment is made (step S440). Since the composition processing unit 10 has not finished the process for all colors (step S440: NO), the next color, for example, magenta is selected (step S445), and the processes of steps S415 to S440 are performed for magenta. repeat.

  In step S440, if the composition processing unit 10 determines that the processing has not been completed for all colors (step S440: NO), the cyan and black colors are selected (step S445), and the process from step S415 is performed. Repeat the process. When the composition processing unit 10 determines that the processing has been completed for all colors (step S440: YES), the toner image transfer processing for each color to the intermediate transfer drum 60 is ended.

  In the above embodiment, the print data received by the communication unit 7 may be used as the image data of the composition source image. Alternatively, image data of an image used as a format may be stored in the image memory 6 in advance and used as image data of a composition source image. In addition, when printing three or more compositing original images, if image data with the same resolution and gradation value and different image data are included, image data that is synthesized for image data with the same resolution and gradation value is generated. Then, transfer processing to the intermediate transfer drum 60 for each image data or transfer processing to the intermediate transfer drum 60 for each color is performed on the combined image data and the image data of the uncombined original image. But you can.

According to the above embodiment, since the images are synthesized on the intermediate transfer drum 60, even if the resolution and gradation of the image data of the synthesis source image are different, no special image processing is performed and one sheet of paper is used. With this set, a composite image in which a plurality of composite original images are superimposed can be printed. As described above, since the synthesized image can be printed without changing the resolution and gradation of the image data of the synthesized original image and generating the image data of the synthesized image electronically, an expensive HDD or the like is required. There is no need to prepare a memory medium or complicated software, and the quality of the composite image is improved. In addition, when color images are formed on the intermediate transfer drum 60 in an overlapping manner, toner images of respective colors (yellow, magenta, cyan, black) obtained by color separation from a plurality of composition original images are overlaid for each color. Therefore, the color switching operation by the developing devices 52a to 52d can be reduced, and the printing processing time can be made efficient.
However, in the synthesis on the intermediate transfer drum 60, the image forming process on the intermediate transfer drum 60 must be repeated for the number of colors used for each synthesized image, and the total processing time is the image data of the synthesized image. This is considered to be longer than when electronically processed. Therefore, in the above embodiment, when the resolution and gradation of the image to be synthesized are the same, the image data of the synthesis source image is electronically generated and printed. Thus, only when electronic image composition is easy, processing time can be shortened by generating image data of a composite image.

  Note that a program for realizing the functions of the composition processing unit 10 and the image data generation unit 11 in FIG. 1 is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and the program recorded on the recording medium is read into a computer system. The print control process may be performed by executing. The “computer system” here includes an OS and hardware such as peripheral devices. The “computer-readable recording medium” refers to a storage device such as a flexible medium, a magneto-optical disk, a portable medium such as a ROM and a CD-ROM, and a hard disk incorporated in a computer system. Further, the “computer-readable recording medium” refers to a volatile memory (RAM) in a computer system that becomes a server or a client when a program is transmitted via a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line. In addition, those holding programs for a certain period of time are also included.

  The program may be transmitted from a computer system storing the program in a storage device or the like to another computer system via a transmission medium or by a transmission wave in the transmission medium. Here, the “transmission medium” for transmitting the program refers to a medium having a function of transmitting information, such as a network (communication network) such as the Internet or a communication line (communication line) such as a telephone line. The program may be for realizing a part of the functions described above. Furthermore, what can implement | achieve the function mentioned above in combination with the program already recorded on the computer system, and what is called a difference file (difference program) may be sufficient.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing which shows schematic structure of the image forming apparatus by the embodiment. It is a figure which shows the image of the synthetic | combination original image and synthetic | combination image by the embodiment. 4 is a processing flow of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. 4 is a processing flow of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. 6 is a processing flow of an image forming apparatus according to another embodiment. 6 is a processing flow of an image forming apparatus according to another embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the relationship between resolution, a gradation value, and data.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming apparatus 2 ... Control part 3 ... Input part 4 ... Display part 5 ... Image reading part 6 ... Image memory 7 ... Communication part 8 ... Printing part DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 9 ... Conveyance control part 10 ... Composition process part 11 ... Image data generation part 40 ... Case 51 ... Photosensitive drum 52a, 52b, 52c, 52d ... Developing device 53a, 53b , 53c, 53d ... developing sleeve 60 ... intermediate transfer drum 61 ... secondary transfer roller 62 ... separation charger 71 ... paper feed cassette 72 ... registration roller pair 73 ... transport belt 74... Fixing unit 75... Vertical conveyance path 76... Discharge tray 80.

Claims (6)

An image forming apparatus that prints a composite image obtained by superimposing a plurality of composite original images,
Printing means having an intermediate transfer member for forming a toner image based on image data;
For each color, the toner image of the color indicated by the image data of each of the composition original images is repeatedly formed on the intermediate transfer body, and the toner image of the composite image formed on the intermediate transfer body is transferred. Combining processing means for instructing the printing means to transfer to a sheet;
An image forming apparatus comprising: An image forming apparatus that prints a composite image obtained by superimposing a plurality of composite original images,
Printing means having an intermediate transfer member for forming a toner image based on image data;
Image data generating means for generating image data of a composite image from image data of the composite original image when the resolution and gradation indicated by the image data of the composite original image are the same;
When the resolution or gradation indicated by the image data of the composite original image is different, a toner image of each of the image data of the plurality of composite original images is formed on the intermediate transfer member, and the composite image formed on the intermediate transfer member Synthesis processing means for instructing the printing means to transfer the toner image to a transfer sheet;
An image forming apparatus comprising: The composition processing unit forms a toner image of each color indicated by image data of a plurality of composition original images on the intermediate transfer member, and transfers the toner image of the composite image formed on the intermediate transfer member to a transfer sheet Instructing the printing means to
The image forming apparatus according to claim 2. The synthesizing unit repeatedly forms, for each color, a toner image of the color indicated by the image data of each of the synthesis original images on the intermediate transfer member, and a composite image formed on the intermediate transfer member Instructing the printing means to transfer the toner image to a transfer sheet;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 3. An image forming program for use in an image forming apparatus that has a printing unit having an intermediate transfer member that forms a toner image based on image data and prints a composite image obtained by superimposing a plurality of composite original images,
For each color, the toner image of the color indicated by the image data of each of the composition original images is repeatedly formed on the intermediate transfer body, and the toner image of the composite image formed on the intermediate transfer body is transferred. A composition processing step for instructing the printing means to transfer the sheet;
An image forming program that causes a computer to execute the above. An image forming program for use in an image forming apparatus that has a printing unit having an intermediate transfer member that forms a toner image based on image data and prints a composite image obtained by superimposing a plurality of composite original images,
An image data generating step for generating image data of a composite image from image data of the composite original image when the resolution and gradation indicated by the image data of the composite original image are the same;
When the resolution or gradation indicated by the image data of the composite original image is different, a toner image of each of the image data of the plurality of composite original images is formed on the intermediate transfer member, and the composite image formed on the intermediate transfer member A synthesis processing step for instructing the printing means to transfer the toner image of the toner to a transfer sheet;
An image forming program that causes a computer to execute the above.

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