Image forming apparatus and method for controlling image forming apparatus

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an image forming apparatus and a method for controlling the image forming apparatus. After an image of a print job is printed using print settings for test printing instead of print settings for the print job based on the fact that test printing is set to be enabled, the possibility that a user forgets to disable the settings of test printing is suppressed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to an image forming apparatus with test printing function, a method for controlling the image forming apparatus, and a recording medium. Background Technology

[0002] As is well known, image forming apparatuses have the function of adjusting the printing results according to equipment settings, including equipment adjustment items such as borderless printing image position offset value and toner concentration.

[0003] As is well known, image forming apparatuses also have test printing and preview functions to verify the correctness of print settings through actual printing.

[0004] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2001-246820 discloses a technique that, when printing in a trial printing mode specified for an instruction test print, verifies the correctness of the print settings by changing the image layout or duplex printing settings while reducing paper waste.

[0005] Japanese Patent No. 06424569 discloses a technology that allows for the previewing and verification of the area to be printed, the area that can be printed depending on the paper size, and the outer area of ​​the paper based on the margin settings.

[0006] Regarding the device settings, visually inspect the actual printed results based on the settings items.

[0007] For example, in the case of borderless printing image position offset, visually check whether the image is printed to the edge of the sheet. In the case of toner concentration, visually check whether printing is at the desired concentration.

[0008] In addition, in determining the device settings to obtain the desired print results, it is necessary to repeatedly change the device settings and visually inspect the print results.

[0009] Because printouts during the trial-and-error period are discarded after verification, consumables such as toner and sheets are wasted.

[0010] In particular, the waste of consumables becomes significant when verification is performed using originals with images printed on the entire sheet, color originals, or originals with multiple pages. Summary of the Invention

[0011] According to some embodiments, an image forming apparatus includes: a receiving unit for setting whether to enable test printing based on a user instruction; a printing unit for receiving a print job; a printing unit for printing an image of the print job using print settings for test printing instead of print settings of the print job received by the receiving unit, based on the fact that the setting unit has enabled test printing; and a changing unit for changing the settings by the setting unit to disable test printing based on the completion of printing the image by the printing unit.

[0012] The features of this disclosure will become clear from the following description of embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following description of the embodiments is by way of example. Attached Figure Description

[0013] Figure 1 The hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus is shown.

[0014] Figure 2 The software configuration of the image forming apparatus is shown.

[0015] Figure 3 This shows the configuration of the print job.

[0016] Figure 4 An example of the device setup screen of the image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 is shown.

[0017] Figure 5A This is a flowchart of the image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1.

[0018] Figure 5B This is a flowchart of the image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1.

[0019] Figure 6A An example of image data for a print job according to Embodiment 1 is shown.

[0020] Figure 6B An example of the output result of a print job according to Example 1 is shown.

[0021] Figure 7 This is a flowchart illustrating the printing process of the image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 2.

[0022] Figure 8 An example of a verification result screen of the image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 3 is shown.

[0023] Figure 9 This is a flowchart illustrating the process of changing the device setting values ​​of the image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 3.

[0024] Figure 10 This is a flowchart illustrating the printing process of the image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 3.

[0025] Figure 11 An example of the device setup screen of the image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 4 is shown.

[0026] Figure 12 This is a flowchart illustrating the printing process of the image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 4.

[0027] Figure 13 This is a flowchart illustrating the process of changing the device setting value of the image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 4. Detailed Implementation

[0028] In the following text, the forms in which this technology is implemented will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0029] Example 1

[0030] Figure 1 This is a block diagram of the hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 100 according to this embodiment.

[0031] The image forming apparatus 100 includes a controller unit 101 configured to control a printer 111, an operation unit 107, and a communication unit 109.

[0032] When the user uses the printing function, the controller unit 101 controls the printer 111 to print an image on the sheet and output the sheet.

[0033] The instructions used to perform printing processing are called print jobs. The image forming apparatus 100 performs printing processing according to the print jobs.

[0034] Figure 3 The print job 300 shown includes a header section 301 and a data section 302. Print information is stored in the header section 301. Image data, including Page Description Language (PDL) data, is stored in the data section 302.

[0035] The controller unit 101 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 102, random access memory (RAM) 103, read-only memory (ROM) 104, hard disk drive (HDD) 105, operation unit interface (I / F) 106, network I / F 108, and device I / F 110. These components of the controller unit 101 are connected via a system bus 120.

[0036] CPU 102 is configured to control the entire system of image forming apparatus 100.

[0037] RAM 103 is the system working memory for the operation of CPU 102 and the image memory for temporary storage of image data.

[0038] In addition, RAM 103 contains programs such as operating system, system software, application software and data, and stores print jobs received from controller unit 101 via network.

[0039] The system bootloader is stored in ROM 104. The operating system, system software, application software, print jobs, settings data, etc., are stored in HDD 105.

[0040] Operation unit I / F 106 is an interface with operation unit 107, and operation unit I / F 106 is configured to output information to be displayed by operation unit 107 to operation unit 107.

[0041] In addition, the operation unit I / F 106 accepts information input by the user from the operation unit 107.

[0042] The network I / F 108 is connected to the communication unit 109 to, for example, control various types of communication with external devices and receive print jobs.

[0043] Device I / F 110 connects to printer 111 and controller unit 101 to print image data and outputs image data.

[0044] Figure 2 This is a block diagram illustrating the software configuration of the image forming apparatus 100 according to this embodiment.

[0045] The image forming apparatus 100 includes an image control unit 201, an equipment setting management unit 202, and a print control unit 203.

[0046] The screen control unit 201 is configured to control the operation unit 107 via the operation unit I / F 106 in order to accept information input by the user using the operation unit 107 and generate a screen to be displayed in the operation unit 107.

[0047] The device setting management unit 202 is configured to store device setting values ​​for adjusting inter-device changes of the image forming apparatus 100 in the HDD 105, display the device setting values ​​in the operation unit 107 via the screen control unit 201, and change the device setting values ​​to values ​​input by the user via the operation unit I / F 106.

[0048] The device setting management unit 202 also manages test output flags, which determine whether to perform test outputs to verify the correctness of the device setting values.

[0049] Examples of device settings include, for instance, the offset value of the image position when drawing an image on a sheet, the toner concentration used to change the print density, etc.

[0050] The print control unit 203 is configured to control the printer 111 via the device I / F 110 to print image data on the sheet and output the sheet.

[0051] Figure 2 Each box shown represents software stored in ROM 104 or HDD 105. CPU 102 reads the software into RAM 103 and executes the software to perform the processing shown in the flowchart described later.

[0052] Figure 4 An example of a device setting screen 400 displayed by the device setting management unit 202 in the operation unit 107 via the screen control unit 201 is shown.

[0053] In the description of this embodiment, as an example of device setting values, the offset value of the image position when drawing an image in the sheet is used.

[0054] The device settings screen 400 includes left and right offset 401, up and down offset 402, and test output checkbox 403 (test printing function).

[0055] Left / Right Offset 401 is a component used to display and set the horizontal offset of an image position when drawing an image on a sheet. Users can change the setting by selecting Left / Right Offset 401 and entering a value using the on-screen keyboard (not shown).

[0056] Vertical offset 402 is a component used to display and set the vertical offset of an image position when drawing an image on a sheet. Users can change the setting by selecting vertical offset 402 and entering a value using the on-screen keyboard (not shown).

[0057] Test Output Checkbox 403 is a checkbox used to display and set the ON or OFF value of the test output marker. The test output marker determines whether to perform test printing to verify the offsets set by using left / right offset 401 and up / down offset 402.

[0058] Figure 5A This is a flowchart illustrating the process performed by the image forming apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 1 for changing device setting values.

[0059] The CPU 102 of the image forming apparatus 100 reads the programs for implementing software modules stored in ROM 104 or HDD 105 into RAM 103 and executes these programs to implement the software modules.

[0060] The process begins when the screen control unit 201 detects that the user has indicated to call the device settings screen 400 in the menu screen (not shown) displayed in the operation unit 107.

[0061] In step S501, the device setting management unit 202 displays the device setting screen 400 via the screen control unit 201.

[0062] In step S502, when the screen control unit 201 detects that the user has entered a value for left-right offset 401, up-down offset 402, or test output checkbox 403, the process proceeds to step S503.

[0063] In step S502, when the screen control unit 201 detects that the exit button (not shown) in the operation unit 107 is pressed, the screen control unit 201 ends the process.

[0064] In step S503, the device setting management unit 202 stores the input device setting value in HDD 105, and the process proceeds to step S502.

[0065] According to this embodiment, the device setting value is the left and right offset value input by using the left and right offset 401, the up and down offset value input by using the up and down offset 402, and the status of the test output mark set in the test output checkbox 403.

[0066] Figure 5B This is a flowchart illustrating the printing process performed by the image forming apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 1.

[0067] CPU 102 reads the programs for implementing software modules stored in ROM 104 or HDD 105 into RAM 103 and executes these programs to implement the software modules.

[0068] When the image forming apparatus 100 receives a print job based on a print command from a client personal computer (PC, not shown), Figure 5B The flowchart shown begins.

[0069] In step S511, the print control unit 203 receives the print job and proceeds to step S512.

[0070] In step S512, the print control unit 203 obtains the value of the test output flag via the device setting management unit 202. When the test output flag is ON, the print control unit 203 proceeds to step S513. When the test output flag is OFF, the print control unit 203 proceeds to step S515.

[0071] In step S513, the print control unit 203 changes the title portion 301 of the print job 300 to the test print setting and proceeds to step S514.

[0072] Changing to test print settings can reduce consumable consumption and is unrelated to offset verification. In other words, changing to test print settings can be any setting change that allows verification of the sheet's boundary portions in the printout.

[0073] Any or all of the following changes are allowed: changing the status of a color print job to monochrome print settings; minimizing toner concentration; and limiting the print area to only the first page.

[0074] In step S514, the print control unit 203 covers the central portion of the image data included in the data portion 302 of the print job, and proceeds to step S515.

[0075] Specifically, the print control unit 203 obtains the sheet size settings from the title portion of the print job and generates and arranges a white rectangular image in the center of the image data, the white rectangular image having a size reduced based on the obtained sheet size.

[0076] Therefore, the central portion of the sheet is obscured, and no content is drawn in this area. The rectangular image arranged here is sufficient in size to allow verification of the drawing within the boundary portions of the printing area. The rectangular image can be formed as needed, reducing its size at a fixed ratio based on the sheet size. Alternatively, rectangular images of various sizes can be pre-stored in the print control unit 203, and a rectangular image can be selected according to the sheet size.

[0077] In step S515, the print control unit 203 obtains the left and right offset values ​​and the up and down offset values ​​from the device setting management unit 202, changes the image position according to the obtained left and right offset values ​​and up and down offset values, executes printing through the printer 111, and ends the process.

[0078] Figure 6A and Figure 6B An example of image data and output results for a print job according to this embodiment is shown.

[0079] Figure 6A The input image data 600 shown is an example of image data sent to the image forming apparatus 100 based on a print command from a client PC (not shown). The input image data 600 includes image data extending to two pages.

[0080] Figure 6B An example of a test output result 610 formed by performing a test print job including input image data 600 according to this embodiment is shown.

[0081] In step S513 above, due to the change in the printing range performed by the print control unit 203, only the first page of the input image data 600 is printed as the output result 610.

[0082] Furthermore, the masked area 611 of the test output result 610 is the central part of the printed area in step S514, that is, the area formed by masking the central part of the sheet.

[0083] When the masking region 611 is drawn in the central part of the printing area rather than the boundary portion of the sheet, the minimum image (i.e., only the image of the boundary portion) is printed. Therefore, it can be verified that the printing of the boundary portion of the sheet is in the desired state.

[0084] In this embodiment, a test print process for verifying whether offsets other than the device setting values ​​are in the expected state has been described. However, test prints can also be performed for other device setting values.

[0085] At this point, in step S513, the print control unit 203 changes the print settings used to allow verification of the test content. For example, in the case of test printing for verifying the toner concentration value for print density, only the print range is changed without changing the toner concentration or color mode.

[0086] You can set the print range to be verified (test the toner concentration within the set print range).

[0087] As described above, according to this embodiment, such as Figure 5B In steps S512 to S514, to verify the correctness of the device settings, a subset of the print settings and parts of the image data of the print job are masked during the test print. Therefore, waste of consumables used for verifying the settings can be reduced.

[0088] Example 2

[0089] According to Example 1, the user closes the test output checkbox 403 on the device settings screen 400 after the test print.

[0090] If the user forgets to turn off the test output checkbox 403, the test print settings and center masking print can be performed again even if a normal print is intended to be performed in a subsequent print.

[0091] In Example 2, an example is described in which normal printing can be performed in printing after the test print. The description of Example 2 focuses on the differences from Example 1.

[0092] Figure 7 This is a flowchart illustrating the printing process performed by the image forming apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 2.

[0093] CPU 102 reads the programs for implementing software modules stored in ROM 104 or HDD 105 into RAM 103 and executes these programs to implement the software modules.

[0094] When the image forming apparatus 100 receives a print job based on a print command from a client PC (not shown), Figure 7 The flowchart shown begins.

[0095] Steps S701 to S705 are similar to steps S511 to S515, respectively. Therefore, the description of steps S701 to S705 is omitted.

[0096] In step S706, the print control unit 203 changes the value of the test output flag to OFF (disables the test printing function) via the device setting management unit 202, and ends the process.

[0097] As described above, according to this embodiment, the test output marker can be set to OFF after test printing, and the waste of consumables due to unnecessary test printing can be reduced.

[0098] Example 3

[0099] According to Embodiment 1, when the device settings need to be further changed after test printing, the user needs to operate the operation unit 107 of the image forming apparatus 100 to display the device settings screen 400 again to change the device settings.

[0100] In Example 3, an example is described in which the user is asked whether the expected print result was obtained after the test print, and the transition to the device settings screen can be easily performed.

[0101] The description of Example 3 focuses on the differences from Example 1.

[0102] Figure 8 An example of a verification test output result screen 800 displayed after a test print is shown in Embodiment 3 via the screen control unit 201 after the test print is performed by the print control unit 203 in the operation unit 107.

[0103] The verification test output screen 800 includes a yes button 801, a no button 802, and a cancel button 803.

[0104] Button 801 is used to issue an instruction to set the above test output flag to OFF when the test print result is the expected print result.

[0105] The No button 802 is used to issue a command to display the device settings screen 400 when the test print result is not the expected print result.

[0106] The cancel button 803 is used to issue a command to cancel the change of device setting value.

[0107] Figure 9 This is a flowchart illustrating the process performed by the image forming apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 3 for changing device setting values.

[0108] The CPU 102 of the image forming apparatus 100 reads the programs for implementing software modules stored in ROM 104 or HDD 105 into RAM 103 and executes these programs to implement the software modules.

[0109] The process begins when the screen control unit 201 detects that the user has indicated to call the device settings screen 400 in the menu screen (not shown) displayed in the operation unit 107.

[0110] Steps S901 and S904 are similar to steps S501 and S503, respectively. Therefore, the description of steps S901 and S904 is omitted.

[0111] In step S902, when the screen control unit 201 detects that the user has input a value for left-right offset 401 or up-down offset 402, the process proceeds to step S903.

[0112] When a value is detected being entered into the test output checkbox 403, the process proceeds to step S904.

[0113] In step S902, when the screen control unit 201 detects that the user has pressed the exit button (not shown) displayed on the operation unit 107, the screen control unit 201 ends the process.

[0114] In step S903, the device setting management unit 202 obtains the stored device setting values ​​from the HDD 105 and stores the obtained device setting values ​​as original values ​​in the RAM 103 to save the original device setting values. This process proceeds to step S904.

[0115] Figure 10 This is a flowchart illustrating the printing process performed by the image forming apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 3.

[0116] CPU 102 reads the programs for implementing software modules stored in ROM 104 or HDD 105 into RAM 103 and executes these programs to implement the software modules.

[0117] Steps S1001 to S1005 are similar to steps S511 to S515, respectively. Therefore, the description of steps S1001 to S1005 is omitted.

[0118] In step S1006, the device setting management unit 202 obtains the value of the test output flag. When the test output flag is ON, the device setting management unit 202 proceeds to step S1007. When the test output flag is OFF, the device setting management unit 202 ends the process.

[0119] In step S1007, the device setting management unit 202 displays the verification test output result screen 800 in the operation unit 107 via the screen control unit 201, and proceeds to step S1008.

[0120] In step S1008, when the device setting management unit 202 detects that the user has pressed the Yes button 801 via the screen control unit 201, the device setting management unit 202 proceeds to step S1011.

[0121] This means that the user has obtained the expected printing results in the test print, and the device settings have been finalized.

[0122] In step S1008, when the device setting management unit 202 detects that the user has pressed the No button 802 via the screen control unit 201, the device setting management unit 202 proceeds to step S1009. This means that the user did not obtain the expected printing result in the test printing and needs to further change the device setting values.

[0123] In step S1008, when the device setting management unit 202 detects that the cancel button 803 has been pressed by the user via the screen control unit 201, the device setting management unit 202 proceeds to step S1010. This means that the user has canceled the change of the device setting value.

[0124] In step S1009, the device setting management unit 202 displays the device setting screen 400 via the screen control unit 201 and ends the process.

[0125] In step S1010, the device setting management unit 202 changes the device setting value to the value saved as the original value in step S903, thereby canceling the change in the device setting value to restore the device setting value to the original value, and proceeds to step S1011.

[0126] In step S1011, the device setting management unit 202 sets the value of the test output flag to OFF and ends the process.

[0127] As described above, according to this embodiment, the user is asked whether the expected print result was obtained after the test print. If the expected print result was not obtained, device settings screen 400 is displayed. This facilitates changing device settings again and improves usability.

[0128] Example 4

[0129] In Example 1, if the desired print result is not obtained during test printing, the device settings are changed and test printing is performed again. At this time, the user must instruct the image forming apparatus 100 to print again from the client PC (not shown).

[0130] In Example 4, an example is described in which a test print can be easily re-executed after a test print without issuing a print command from the client PC.

[0131] The description of Example 4 focuses on the differences from Example 1.

[0132] Figure 11 An example of a device setting screen 400 displayed by the device setting management unit 202 in the operation unit 107 via the screen control unit 201 according to embodiment 4 is shown.

[0133] The device settings screen 400 includes left and right offset 401, up and down offset 402, test output checkbox 403, and re-execute test button 1101.

[0134] The Re-execute Test button 1101 is used to instruct a test print to be performed based on the same print job as the previous test print. The Re-execute Test button 1101 is displayed only if a test print job exists.

[0135] Figure 12 This is a flowchart illustrating the printing process performed by the image forming apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 4.

[0136] CPU 102 reads the programs for implementing software modules stored in ROM 104 or HDD 105 into RAM 103 and executes these programs to implement the software modules.

[0137] Steps S1201, S1202, and S1204 to S1206 are similar to steps S511 to S515, respectively. Therefore, the description of steps S1201, S1202, and S1204 to S1206 is omitted.

[0138] In step S1203, the print control unit 203 stores the print job received in step S1201 as a test print job in HDD 105 and proceeds to step S1204.

[0139] Figure 13 This is a flowchart illustrating the process performed by the image forming apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 4 for changing device setting values.

[0140] The CPU 102 of the image forming apparatus 100 reads the programs for implementing software modules stored in ROM 104 or HDD 105 into RAM 103 and executes these programs to implement the software modules.

[0141] The process begins when the screen control unit 201 detects that the user has indicated to call the device settings screen 400 in the menu screen (not shown) displayed in the operation unit 107.

[0142] Steps S1301, S1305, and S1306 are similar to steps S901, S903, and S904, respectively. Therefore, the description of steps S1301, S1305, and S1306 is omitted.

[0143] In step S1302, the device setting management unit 202 verifies whether the test print job is stored in the HDD 105 via the print control unit 203. If the test print job is stored, the device setting management unit 202 proceeds to step S1303. If the test print job is not stored, the device setting management unit 202 proceeds to step S1304.

[0144] In step S1303, the device setting management unit 202 displays the re-execute test button 1101 on the device setting screen 400 via the screen control unit 201, and proceeds to step S1304.

[0145] In step S1304, when the device setting management unit 202 detects that a value has been input to the left-right offset 401 or the up-down offset 402 via the screen control unit 201, the device setting management unit 202 proceeds to step S1305.

[0146] When a value is detected being entered into the test output checkbox 403, the process proceeds to step S1306.

[0147] In step S1304, when the device setting management unit 202 detects that the re-execution test button 1101 has been pressed via the screen control unit 201, the device setting management unit 202 proceeds to step S1307.

[0148] In step S1307, the device setting management unit 202 executes printing based on the test print job via the print control unit 203 and ends the process.

[0149] According to this embodiment, the print job is stored as a test print job during the test print job period, and then the user presses the re-execute test button 1101. This facilitates re-execution of the test print job and improves usability.

[0150] Different embodiments

[0151] This disclosure may be a control program configured to implement one or more of the above embodiments and executed by a computer. This disclosure may also be a recording medium storing the control program.

[0152] This technology is not limited to the embodiments described above. Various modifications (including organic combinations of embodiments) can be made based on the spirit of this disclosure. These modifications are not excluded from the scope of this disclosure. That is, this disclosure includes configurations formed by combining the above embodiments and their modifications.

[0153] This technology can reduce the waste of consumables used to verify device settings.

[0154] Other embodiments

[0155] The embodiments of this disclosure can also be implemented by a computer that reads and executes computer-executable instructions (e.g., one or more programs) recorded on a storage medium (which may also be more fully referred to as a "non-transient computer-readable storage medium") to perform the functions of one or more embodiments described above and / or includes one or more circuits (e.g., application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs)) for performing the functions of one or more embodiments described above, and by a method executed by a computer of a system or device, for example, by reading and executing computer-executable instructions from a storage medium to perform the functions of one or more embodiments described above and / or controlling one or more circuits to perform the functions of one or more embodiments described above. The computer may include one or more processors (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor unit (MPU)) and may include a network of separate computers or separate processors to read and execute the computer-executable instructions. The computer-executable instructions may be provided to the computer, for example, from a network or storage medium. The storage medium may include, for example, hard disks, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), memory of distributed computing systems, optical discs (such as optical discs (CD), digital versatile discs (DVD), and Blu-ray discs (BD)). TM One or more of the following: flash memory devices, memory cards, etc.

[0156] Although this disclosure has been described with reference to embodiments, it is to be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. The scope of the appended claims is to be given the broadest description to include all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus comprising: The settings section is used to configure whether test printing is enabled based on user instructions. The receiving section is used to receive print jobs; The printing unit is configured to print an image of the print job using the print settings for the test print job, rather than the print settings of the print job received by the receiving unit, based on the fact that the setting unit has enabled the test print setting; as well as The modification unit is used to modify the settings through the setting unit to disable test printing based on the completion of image printing by the printing unit.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, Based on the fact that the test printing setting has been enabled by the setting unit, the modification unit changes the printing settings received by the receiving unit for the print job to the printing settings for the test printing.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, in, The print settings for test prints are designed to reduce the consumption of consumables that are not related to the content being printed.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, in, When the test print is a print density test, the printing unit prints an image without changing the color mode settings of the print job to the print settings used for the test print.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, in, When the test print is a print density test, the printing unit prints an image without changing the ink concentration setting of the print job to the print settings used for the test print.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, in, When the test print is performed on the boundary portion of the print area, the printing unit prints at least the boundary portion of the image without printing the central portion of the print area outside the boundary portion of the image.

7. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising: The acquisition unit is used to acquire the sheet dimensions for the print job; as well as The generating unit is used to generate a white rectangular image in the center of the image, the white rectangular image having a size smaller than the sheet size acquired by the acquiring unit.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: The storage unit is used to store the print job as a test print job after an image has been printed using print settings for test printing. as well as The print settings section is used to set the print image. The printing unit prints the image based on the test print job stored in the storage unit and the settings of the print settings unit.

9. A method for controlling an image forming apparatus, the method comprising: The setup steps allow users to configure whether to enable test printing based on their instructions. Receive steps, receive print jobs; The printing step, based on the fact that test printing is enabled in the setup step, prints the image of the print job using the print settings for test printing instead of the print settings of the print job received through the receiving step; as well as The change step, based on the completion of image printing in the printing step, changes the setting step to disable test printing by whether to enable test printing.

Images