Image formation apparatus, image formation method, program and management device

Abstract

To provide an image formation apparatus, image formation method, program, and management device that can efficiently form an image including a specific color.SOLUTION: An image formation apparatus 1 includes: an image formation unit 22 which can form an image including a specific color on a recording medium P; a determination unit 25 that determines the necessity of additional printing for image formation of printing job data on the basis of the formation order of each color based on the acquired printing job data and the arrangement order of each color in the image formation unit 22; and a division unit 25 that divides the printing job data when the determination unit 25 determines that the additional printing is required.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, an image forming method, a program, and a management apparatus. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, in electrophotographic copying machines and printers, developers using toner for developing electrostatic images (hereinafter simply referred to as "toner") have become mainstream because of their advantage in high-speed development. In detail, an electrostatic image is formed on a photoconductor by a laser, and the electrostatic image is developed with the charged toner.

[0003] In recent years, image forming apparatuses equipped with special color toners that express colors other than CMYK have become known. In such image forming apparatuses, multiple printing (reprinting) may be required depending on the type of printing or image forming apparatus.

[0004] However, it is difficult for a user to determine whether or not overprinting is necessary at the stage of forming image data. Also, if overprinting is necessary, it is difficult for a user to set print settings related to overprinting, such as the order and orientation of printing.

[0005] Therefore, for example, Patent Document 1 describes an invention in which a print job is divided according to overlapping of multiple objects included in the print job. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-201548 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] However, for example, in the case of an image forming apparatus that forms images in the order of spot color (white) and CMYK, if the print job is a white background, there is no need to perform overprinting even if multiple objects overlap. Therefore, in such a case, the invention of Patent Document 1 may cause loss in the image forming operation.

[0008] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus, an image forming method, a program, and a management apparatus that are capable of more efficiently forming images including spot colors. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus, comprising: an image forming unit capable of forming an image on a recording medium using color materials of a plurality of colors including spot colors; a determination unit that determines whether or not overprinting is required for image formation of the print job data based on a formation order of each color based on the acquired print job data and an arrangement order of each color in the image forming unit; The printing apparatus further includes a division unit that divides the print job data when the determination unit determines that additional printing is necessary.

[0010] The invention described in claim 2 is the image forming apparatus described in claim 1, The determination unit determines that overprinting is unnecessary if the print job data does not include a spot color object, if the recording medium is not set to a transparent medium, or if the recording medium is not set to mirror image printing.

[0011] The invention described in claim 3 is the image forming apparatus described in claim 2, The determination unit determines that overprinting is unnecessary when a spot color object and a YMCK color object do not overlap in the print job data.

[0012] The invention described in claim 4 is the image forming apparatus described in claim 3, The image forming unit forms images of the special colors, and then forms images of the colors YMCK in an arbitrary order.

[0013] The invention described in claim 5 is the image forming apparatus described in claim 4, The determination unit determines that overprinting is necessary when at least one object of a spot color is superimposed on an object of any of the colors YMCK in the print job data.

[0014] The invention described in claim 6 is the image forming apparatus described in claim 4, The determination unit determines that overprinting is unnecessary when all objects of spot colors are superimposed below objects of any of the colors YMCK in the print job data.

[0015] The invention described in claim 7 is the image forming apparatus described in claim 1, The image forming section forms images of the colors YMCK in an arbitrary order, and then forms images of special colors.

[0016] The invention described in claim 8 is the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, The image forming section forms an image on a roll-shaped recording medium.

[0017] The invention described in claim 9 is the image forming apparatus described in claim 8, In an even-numbered job, the image forming unit forms an image rotated 180 degrees from the print job data in reverse order.

[0018] The invention described in claim 10 is the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, The device further includes a notification unit that notifies an external terminal of a result of the determination by the determination unit.

[0019] The invention described in claim 11 is 1. An image forming method for an image forming apparatus having an image forming unit capable of forming an image on a recording medium using color materials of a plurality of colors including spot colors, comprising: a determination step of determining whether or not overprinting is required for image formation of the print job data based on a formation order of each color based on the acquired print job data and an arrangement order of each color in the image forming unit; a dividing step of dividing the print job data when it is determined in the determining step that additional printing is necessary; and an image forming step of forming an image including a special color on a recording medium.

[0020] The invention described in claim 12 is a program, A computer of an image forming apparatus having an image forming unit capable of forming an image on a recording medium using color materials of a plurality of colors including spot colors, a determination unit that determines whether or not overprinting is required for image formation of the print job data based on a formation order of each color based on the acquired print job data and an arrangement order of each color in the image forming unit; When the determining section determines that additional printing is necessary, the printing job data is caused to function as a dividing section that divides the print job data.

[0021] The present invention provides a management device for managing image formation in an image forming unit capable of forming an image on a recording medium using color materials of a plurality of colors including spot colors, the management device comprising: a determination unit that determines whether or not overprinting is required for image formation of the print job data based on a formation order of each color based on the acquired print job data and an arrangement order of each color in the image forming unit; The printing apparatus further includes a division unit that divides the print job data when the determination unit determines that additional printing is necessary. Effect of the Invention

[0022] According to the present invention, images including special colors can be formed more efficiently. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0023] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 3] 4 is a flowchart of an image forming process according to the present embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of image data according to the embodiment; [Diagram 5] 11 is a flowchart of a process for determining whether or not additional printing is required, which is part of the image forming process according to the present embodiment. [Figure 6A] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an image viewed from the image forming surface side of the recording medium. [Figure 6B] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an image viewed from the back side of a recording medium. [Figure 7] 13 is a diagram showing an example of bitmap data in which a YMCK object and a W object do not overlap. FIG. [Figure 8A] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a recording medium on which a YMCK object is formed. [Figure 8B] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of a recording medium on which an object W is overprinted. [Figure 9] 13 is an example of a job setting screen including a setting as to whether or not additional printing is required. [Figure 10] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to another embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to another embodiment. [Figure 12] 11 is a display unit showing an example of a determination result as to whether or not additional printing is required. [Figure 13] FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of an image forming apparatus according to another embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024] Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the scope of the invention is not limited to the illustrated examples. In the following description, components having the same functions and configurations are given the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0025] [Overall configuration of image forming device] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus 1. Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the image forming apparatus 1.

[0026] The image forming apparatus 1 is an apparatus that forms an image on a recording medium P (continuous recording medium) which is a roll of continuous paper, a continuous film, etc. As shown in Fig. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 includes, from the upstream side along the transport direction of the recording medium P, a paper feeder 10, an image forming apparatus main body 20, and a winding device 30.

[0027] (Paper Feeding Device) The paper feed device 10 feeds the recording medium P to the image forming apparatus main body 20. The paper feed device 10 includes a paper feed section 11 and the like.

[0028] {Paper feed section} As shown in Fig. 1, for example, within its housing, the paper feed unit 11 holds a roll-shaped recording medium P wound around a support shaft 111 so as to be rotatable. The paper feed unit 11 transports the recording medium P to the image forming apparatus main body 20 at a constant speed via a plurality of rollers. The plurality of rollers are, for example, a delivery roller and a paper feed roller. Although Fig. 1 shows only one recording medium P, the paper feed unit 11 may hold a plurality of recording media P.

[0029] (Image forming device body) The image forming apparatus main body 20 forms an image on a recording medium P. The image forming apparatus main body 20 is located on the downstream side of the paper feeder 10 in the transport direction and on the upstream side of the winding device 30 in the transport direction.

[0030] The image forming apparatus main body 20 includes a conveying section 21, an image forming section 22, a fixing section 23, an operation display section 24, a control section 25, a storage section 26, a controller IF 27, and the like.

[0031] {Transportation section} The conveying unit 21 is a conveying mechanism for the recording medium P inside the image forming apparatus main body 20. The conveying unit 21 includes, for example, a plurality of rollers. Under the control of the control unit 25, the conveying unit 21 conveys the recording medium P conveyed from the paper feeder 10 to the image forming unit 22 and then to the fixing unit 23, and then discharges the recording medium P.

[0032] {Image forming section} The image forming unit 22 forms a toner image by electrophotography based on image data input from an external terminal (such as a personal computer), for example, and transfers the toner image to the recording medium P. As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming unit 22 includes photoconductor drums (W to Y) of the respective colors as image carriers, and an intermediate transfer belt B. In this embodiment, the photoconductor drums (W to Y) of the respective colors are arranged so that toner images are formed in the order of the special colors W (white), K (black), C (cyan), M (magenta), and Y (yellow) as shown in FIG. 1. The intermediate transfer belt B is an endless belt. The image forming unit 22 winds the intermediate transfer belt B around a plurality of rollers and supports it so that it can run.

[0033] The image forming unit 22 forms a toner image using color materials (toners) of each color on the photoconductor drums (W to Y) of each color, and transfers the toner images successively onto the intermediate transfer belt B. In this way, the image forming unit 22 forms a toner image on the intermediate transfer belt B in which layers of each color are superimposed. Then, the image forming unit 22 transfers the toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt B onto the recording medium P by applying a bias of the opposite polarity to the toner to the transfer roller T.

[0034] {Fixing part} The fixing unit 23 fixes the toner image formed on the recording medium P. As shown in Fig. 1, the fixing unit 23 includes a pair of rollers. The pair of rollers is a heating roller 231 and a pressure roller 232. The recording medium P is sandwiched between the pair of rollers.

[0035] Fixing unit 23 heats heating roller 231 to a predetermined temperature by a heater as a heat source. Fixing unit 23 also urges pressure roller 232 toward heating roller 231 by an elastic member (not shown). Fixing unit 23 passes recording medium P, onto which the toner image has been transferred, through a nip between heating roller 231 and pressure roller 232. Through this control, fixing unit 23 applies heat and pressure to the toner image to melt and fix it.

[0036] {Operation display section} The operation display unit 24 includes a display unit 24a and an operation unit 24b. The display unit 24a includes a display screen and displays various information on the screen. The operation unit 24b is used by the user to input various instructions.

[0037] {Control Unit} The control unit 25 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a RAM (Random Access Memory). The CPU reads out various programs, such as a system program and a processing program, stored in the storage unit 26 and loads them in the RAM. The CPU then executes various processes according to the loaded programs. The control unit 25 also controls the operation of the image forming unit 22 so that the controller IF 27 forms an image on a sheet based on image data received by the controller IF 27.

[0038] {Storage section} The storage unit 26 includes, for example, a hard disk drive (HDD), a semiconductor non-volatile memory, etc. The storage unit 26 stores various programs, including a system program and a processing program, executed by the control unit 25, and data required for executing these programs.

[0039] {Controller IF} The controller IF 27 receives print job data input from an external terminal.

[0040] (winding device) The winding device 30 is located downstream in the transport direction of the image forming apparatus main body 20. The winding device 30 includes a winding section 31 and the like.

[0041] {Winding section} 1, the winding unit 31 holds the recording medium P in a roll shape by winding it around a support shaft 311 within its housing. The winding unit 31 winds the conveyed recording medium P around the support shaft 311 at a constant speed via a plurality of rollers. The plurality of rollers are, for example, a delivery roller or a paper discharge roller.

[0042] [Image formation processing] Next, the image forming process by the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 3. The control unit 25 executes the image forming process when the controller IF 27 receives print job data including image data such as that shown in Fig. 4 from an external terminal. The control unit 25 also executes the image forming process in cooperation with a program stored in the storage unit 26.

[0043] First, the control unit 25 acquires print data related to a print job from the print job data received by the controller IF 27 (step S101). The control unit 25 also executes RIP processing on the image data included in the print job data to generate bitmap data (step S102).

[0044] Next, the control unit 25 determines whether or not overprinting is necessary (step S103). Details of the overprinting necessity determination will be described later. Depending on the overprinting necessity determination, an overprinting flag, which will be described later, is set to on / off. In this way, the control unit 25 functions as a determination unit that determines whether or not overprinting is necessary for image formation of the print job data.

[0045] After determining whether or not overprinting is necessary, the control unit 25 determines whether the overprinting flag is on or off (step S104). If the overprinting flag is off (step S104; No), overprinting is not necessary. Therefore, the control unit 25 sets the print job to be executed in one job (step S105). Then, the control unit 25 forms an image in one job based on the bitmap data and the print job data (step S106).

[0046] If the overprinting flag is on (step S104; Yes), the control unit 25 divides the print job into a job for forming a YMCK object O1 and a job for forming a spot color object O2 (step S107). In this way, the control unit 25 functions as a division unit that divides the print job data when it is determined that overprinting is necessary. Then, the control unit 25 executes the first print job to form the YMCK object O1 (step S108).

[0047] After the first print job is completed, the control unit 25 displays the fact that the first print job is completed on the display unit 24a and / or the display unit of the external terminal, etc. The control unit 25 also displays an instruction to set the recording medium P wound by the winding device 30 back into the paper feed device 10 on the display unit 24a and / or the display unit of the external terminal (step S109).

[0048] The control unit 25 waits until the recording medium P is reset in the paper feeder 10 (step S110). When the user resets the recording medium P in the paper feeder 10 (step S110; Yes), the control unit 25 forms a spot color object O2 (step S111). After the second print job is completed, the control unit 25 ends the image formation process.

[0049] [Determine whether additional printing is required] Next, the process of determining whether or not additional printing is required in step S103 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0050] First, the control unit 25 determines whether the generated bitmap data includes a spot color object O2 (step S1031). If the bitmap data does not include a spot color object O2 (step S1031; No), overprinting is not required. Therefore, the control unit 25 sets the overprinting flag to OFF (step S1032).

[0051] If a spot color object O2 is included (step S1031; Yes), it is determined whether or not transparent media is set as the recording medium P in the print job data and whether or not mirror image printing of bitmap data is set (step S1033).

[0052] If the recording medium P is not set as a transparent medium or is not set to print the bitmap data as a mirror image (step S1033; No), it is assumed that the printed image will be viewed from the image forming surface P1 side of the recording medium P, as shown in Fig. 6A. In this case, it is sufficient to form the spot color object O2 and the YMCK object O1 in that order, and no overprinting is required. Therefore, the control unit 25 sets the overprinting flag to OFF (step S1032).

[0053] On the other hand, if the recording medium P is set to transparent media and the bitmap data is set to be printed as a mirror image (step S1033; Yes), it is assumed that the printed image will be viewed from the back side P2 opposite the image forming surface P1, as shown in Figure 6B.

[0054] Therefore, the control unit 25 determines whether the YMCK object O1 and the spot color object O2 overlap in the bitmap data (step S1034). For example, as shown in Fig. 7, if all the YMCK objects O1 and the spot color objects O2 do not overlap (step S1034; No), they can be formed in one job. Therefore, the control unit 25 sets the overprinting flag to OFF (step S1032).

[0055] If the YMCK object O1 and the spot color object O2 overlap (step S1034; Yes), the control unit 25 determines whether at least one spot color object O2 is overlapped on the YMCK object O1 (step S1035).

[0056] When at least one spot color object O2 is overlaid on a YMCK object O1 (step S1035; Yes), the spot color object O2 needs to be overprinted. This is because in this embodiment, the image forming unit 22 is configured to form a spot color (W) object O2 on the intermediate transfer belt B and then form a YMCK object O1, as shown in Fig. 1. Therefore, the control unit 25 sets the overprinting flag to ON (step S1036).

[0057] 4, when all the spot color objects O2 are overlapped under the YMCK object O1 (step S1035; No), they can be formed in one job. Therefore, the control unit 25 sets the overprinting flag to OFF (step S1032).

[0058] After setting the pre-printing flag in step S1032 or step S1036, the control unit 25 transitions to step S104, and then executes a print job according to whether the pre-printing flag is on or off, as described above.

[0059] [Additional printing process] Next, the overprinting process from step S109 to step S111 will be described in detail. As described above, the recording medium P in this embodiment is a roll of continuous paper or a continuous film. The rolled recording medium P is held in a roll shape by the paper feed section 11 of the paper feed device 10, and after an image is formed on it by the image forming apparatus main body 20, it is held in a roll shape again by the winding section 31 of the winding device 30.

[0060] Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the starting edge of the recording medium P in the first print job that forms the YMCK object O1 becomes the ending edge in the second print job that forms the spot color object O2.

[0061] Therefore, the control unit 25 sets the print data for the second print job to overprint the spot color object O2, rotating the bitmap data by 180 degrees and printing in reverse order from the last page. By this control, image formation is performed according to the image data created by the user.

[0062] [Effects of the embodiment] As described above, the image forming apparatus 1 according to this embodiment includes an image forming unit 22 capable of forming an image including spot colors on a recording medium P. The image forming apparatus 1 also includes a control unit 25 that functions as a determination unit that determines whether or not overprinting is required for image formation of the print job data based on the formation order of the colors based on the acquired print job data and the arrangement order of the colors in the image forming unit 22. The image forming apparatus 1 also includes a control unit 25 that functions as a division unit that divides the print job data when the determination unit determines that overprinting is required. This configuration makes it possible to more efficiently form images including spot colors.

[0063] [Other configurations] The description of the above embodiment is merely an example of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present invention, and is not intended to be limiting. The detailed configurations and operations of the components constituting the image forming apparatus 1 may be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0064] For example, in step S1031, the control unit 25 determines whether or not the bitmap data includes the object O2 of a spot color, but this is not limited to the above. The control unit 25 may transition to step S1032 or step S1033 depending on whether or not the print data is set to all white.

[0065] In addition, in the above-mentioned configuration, the control unit 25 automatically determines whether or not to perform the overprinting setting in steps S1031 to S1036, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when a user sets to perform overprinting on a setting screen such as that shown in Fig. 9, the control unit 25 may be configured to perform the overprinting process according to the setting. In addition, in this configuration, when the setting of whether or not overprinting is required by the user differs from the determination of whether or not overprinting is required by the control unit 25, the execution of overprinting may be confirmed on the operation display unit 24 or an external terminal.

[0066] In addition, for example, in the above, the image forming unit 22 having only one photoconductor drum W of the special color (W) is exemplified, but the present invention is not limited to this. As shown in Fig. 10, for example, the image forming unit 22 may further have a photoconductor drum G of another special color (for example, G (gold)).

[0067] 10, in such an image forming unit 22, the photoconductor drum G of the special color (G) is configured to form a toner image after the other photoconductor drums (W to Y). This is because the special colors other than W need to be colored in their own colors, and the toner needs to be at the top of the image forming surface P1.

[0068] Therefore, in such an image forming apparatus 1, when the overprint flag is on, the control unit 25 needs to divide the print job into three print jobs. Specifically, the control unit 25 forms a spot color (G) object in the first print job. Then, the control unit 25 forms a YMCK object O1 in the second print job. Furthermore, the control unit 25 forms a spot color (W) object O2 in the third print job.

[0069] In this image forming apparatus 1, the starting edge of the recording medium P in the first print job for forming an object O2 in a spot color (W) becomes the starting edge again in the third print job for forming an object in a spot color (G). Therefore, in even-numbered print jobs, the control unit 25 rotates the bitmap data by 180 degrees and sets the print job data to be printed in reverse order from the last page. With this control, the print process is executed according to the image data created by the user.

[0070] Although FIG. 10 illustrates a configuration in which the photoconductor drums G and W of two special colors are provided, it goes without saying that a configuration in which three or more (three colors) are provided may also be used.

[0071] 1 and 10, the image forming apparatus 1 is exemplified in which the toner images are formed in the order of W, K to Y, but is not limited thereto. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, the photoconductor drums (K to W) may be arranged so that the toner images are formed in the order of K to Y, and W.

[0072] However, in the case of the arrangement shown in FIG. 11, in step S1035, the control unit 25 determines whether at least one spot color object O2 is overlapped below the YMCK object O1. If at least one spot color object O2 is overlapped below the YMCK object O1, the spot color object O2 needs to be overprinted. Therefore, the control unit 25 sets the overprinting flag to ON. On the other hand, if all spot color objects O2 are overlapped on the YMCK object O1, they can be formed in one job. Therefore, the control unit 25 sets the overprinting flag to OFF.

[0073] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 12, the control unit 25 may cause the display unit 24a and / or an external terminal to display the result of the determination in step S103 as to whether or not additional printing is required, before the printing is performed in steps S106 and S108.

[0074] In the above, the image forming apparatus 1 in which the control unit 25 of the image forming apparatus main body 20 functions as the determination unit and the division unit has been exemplified, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in Fig. 13, the image forming apparatus 1 may be configured to include a management device 40 that is a separate device from the paper feeder 10, the image forming apparatus main body 20, and the winding device 30. In this configuration, the management device 40 that receives print data from an external terminal functions as the determination unit and the division unit to operate the image forming apparatus 1.

[0075] In the above, examples have been disclosed in which a hard disk or a non-volatile semiconductor memory is used as a computer-readable medium for the program according to the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to these examples. Portable recording media such as CD-ROMs can be used as other computer-readable media. Furthermore, carrier waves can be used as a medium for providing data for the program according to the present invention via a communication line. [Explanation of symbols]

[0076] 1. Image forming device 10 Paper feeder 22 Image forming section 24a Display section 25 Control unit (judgment unit, division unit, notification unit) 30 Winding device 40 Management device O1 YMCK color object O2 Specialty (W) Objects W, K, C, M, Y, G photoconductor drum P Recording medium

Claims

1. an image forming unit capable of forming an image on a recording medium using color materials of a plurality of colors including spot colors; a determination unit that determines whether or not overprinting is required for image formation of the print job data based on a formation order of each color based on the acquired print job data and an arrangement order of each color in the image forming unit; a division unit that divides the print job data when the determination unit determines that additional printing is necessary.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the determination unit determines that overprinting is not necessary if the print job data does not include a spot color object, if the recording medium is not set to transparent media, or if the recording medium is not set to mirror image printing.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the determination unit determines that overprinting is unnecessary when an object of a spot color and an object of YMCK colors do not overlap in the print job data.

4. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the image forming section forms an image of a particular color, and then forms images of YMCK colors in an arbitrary order.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the determination unit determines that overprinting is necessary when at least one object of a spot color is superimposed on an object of any of Y, M, C, and K colors in the print job data.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the determination unit determines that overprinting is unnecessary when all objects of spot colors are superimposed below objects of any of the colors YMCK in the print job data.

7. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming section forms an image of a special color after forming images of YMCK colors in an arbitrary order.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the image forming section forms an image on a roll-shaped recording medium.

9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the image forming section forms an image rotated by 180° from the print job data in a reverse order in an even-numbered job.

10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a notification unit that notifies an external terminal of a result of the determination by the determination unit.

11. 1. An image forming method for an image forming apparatus having an image forming unit capable of forming an image on a recording medium using color materials of a plurality of colors including spot colors, comprising: a determination step of determining whether or not overprinting is required for image formation of the print job data based on a formation order of each color based on the acquired print job data and an arrangement order of each color in the image forming unit; a dividing step of dividing the print job data when it is determined in the determining step that additional printing is necessary; and an image forming step of forming an image including a special color on a recording medium.

12. A computer of an image forming apparatus having an image forming unit capable of forming an image on a recording medium using color materials of a plurality of colors including spot colors, a determination unit that determines whether or not overprinting is required for image formation of the print job data based on a formation order of each color based on the acquired print job data and an arrangement order of each color in the image forming unit; a program that functions as a division unit that divides the print job data when the determination unit determines that additional printing is necessary;

13. A management device for managing image formation in an image forming unit capable of forming an image on a recording medium using color materials of a plurality of colors including spot colors, a determination unit that determines whether or not overprinting is required for image formation of the print job data based on a formation order of each color based on the acquired print job data and an arrangement order of each color in the image forming unit; a division unit that divides the print job data when the determination unit determines that additional printing is necessary.

Images