Image forming apparatus and control method

Abstract

To provide a technique that enables a user to easily input information concerning an abnormality of an image quality.SOLUTION: An image forming device according to an embodiment comprises an image forming part, a display part, an area designating part, a superimposition position designating part and a transmitting part. The image forming part forms an image for printing shown by image data on a sheet. The display part displays the image for printing. The area designating part enables a user to designate an area in the image for printing displayed by the display part. The superimposition position designating part enables the user to designate a superimposition position at which a same-shaped area having the same shape as the shape of the designated area designated by the are designating part is superimposed on the image for printing. The transmitting part transmits user-designation information showing the designated area and the superimposed position to a superior device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5B

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] An embodiment of the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and a control method. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, in image forming apparatuses, there have been cases where the image printed on a sheet has an abnormality in image quality, such as an image being printed out of alignment. When such an image quality abnormality occurs, appropriate measures such as cleaning or part replacement are required depending on the type of image quality abnormality.

[0003] Generally, users are not familiar with image quality abnormalities, and therefore do not know how to respond. Therefore, the user inquires of a service person, but if the user does not know the type of image quality abnormality, the user cannot properly convey the image quality abnormality to the service person. If the service person cannot identify the type of image quality abnormality, the service person may not be able to visit the user with the parts necessary to respond to the image quality abnormality. In that case, the service person must make a re-visit, which increases the service cost for the service person. In addition, for the user, this means unnecessary increase in the time until the image forming apparatus can be used.

[0004] In order to cope with this, it is conceivable that the user may send the image in which the image quality abnormality occurred to a service technician. In this case, the service technician can identify the type of image quality abnormality, but sending the image may cause security problems.

[0005] In light of this, several techniques have been proposed for identifying the type of image quality abnormality without sending the image in which the image quality abnormality occurred to a service technician. One such technique is an image forming apparatus that displays multiple images of examples of image quality abnormalities and allows the user to select one from among them. Another known image forming apparatus allows the user to input the type of image quality abnormality and the location information where the image quality abnormality occurred. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] JP 2019-102843 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2017-223807 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] However, in the above-mentioned techniques, depending on the type of image quality abnormality, the input operation by the user may become cumbersome.

[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide a technique that enables a user to easily input information regarding image quality abnormalities. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] An image forming apparatus according to an embodiment has an image forming unit, a display unit, an area designation unit, a superimposition position designation unit, and a transmission unit. The image forming unit forms an image for printing indicated by image data on a sheet. The display unit displays the image for printing. The area designation unit allows a user to designate an area within the image for printing displayed by the display unit. The superimposition position designation unit allows the user to designate a superimposition position at which an area having the same shape as the designated area designated by the area designation unit is superimposed on the image for printing. The transmission unit transmits user designation information indicating the designated area and the superimposition position to a higher-level device. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a side view of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. [Figure 3A] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of hot offset. [Figure 3B] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of hot offset. [Figure 4A] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a ghost. [Figure 4B] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a ghost. [Figure 5A] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a selection screen. [Figure 5B] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of an area designation screen. [Figure 5C] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a superimposition position designation screen. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a screen viewed by a service technician. [Figure 7] 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing in the image forming apparatus. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] In the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment, the user can easily input information regarding image quality abnormalities.

[0012] Fig. 1 is a side view of an image forming apparatus 10 according to an embodiment. In Fig. 1, the image forming apparatus 10 has an image formation control unit 100 and a printer unit 18. The image formation control unit 100 controls the printer unit 18 and the like. The image formation control unit 100 controls the transport of a medium (hereinafter, referred to as a "sheet") in the printer unit 18. Controlling the transport of the sheet means controlling the timing of transport of the sheet, the stopping position of the sheet, the transport speed of the sheet, and the like.

[0013] The sheet cassette 516 stores sheets. The sheets are made of materials such as paper and plastic film.

[0014] The printer unit 18 is an example of an image forming unit. The printer unit 18 performs an image forming operation. For example, the printer unit 18 forms an image indicated by image data on a sheet. In the following description, forming an image on a sheet is also referred to as printing. The printer unit 18 includes an intermediate transfer belt 21. The printer unit 18 supports the intermediate transfer belt 21 with a driven roller 41, a backup roller 40, and the like. The printer unit 18 rotates the intermediate transfer belt 21 in the direction of arrow m.

[0015] The printer unit 18 includes four sets of image forming stations 522, 622, 722, and 822. The image forming stations 522, 622, 722, and 822 are used to form images of Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan), and K (black), respectively. The image forming stations 522, 622, 722, and 822 are disposed below the intermediate transfer belt 21 along the rotation direction of the intermediate transfer belt 21.

[0016] The following describes the Y (yellow) image forming station 522 as an example among the image forming stations 522, 622, 722, and 822. Note that the image forming stations 622, 722, and 822 have the same configuration as the image forming station 522, so detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0017] The image forming station 522 includes an electrostatic charger 26, an exposure scanning head 27, a developing device 28, and a photoconductor cleaner 29. The electrostatic charger 26, the exposure scanning head 27, the developing device 28, and the photoconductor cleaner 29 are arranged around the photoconductor drum 24 that rotates in the direction of the arrow n.

[0018] The image forming station 522 includes a primary transfer roller 30. The primary transfer roller 30 faces the photoconductor drum 24 with the intermediate transfer belt 21 interposed therebetween.

[0019] In the image forming station 522, the photoconductor drum 24 is charged by the electrostatic charger 26, and then exposed by the exposure scanning head 27. In the image forming station 522, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photoconductor drum 24. In the developing device 28, the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor drum 24 is developed by using a two-component developer formed of a toner and a carrier.

[0020] The primary transfer roller 30 primarily transfers the toner image formed on the photoconductor drum 24 onto the intermediate transfer belt 21. The image forming stations 522, 622, 722, and 822 form color toner images on the intermediate transfer belt 21 by the primary transfer roller 30. The color toner images are formed by sequentially overlapping toner images of Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan), and K (black). The photoconductor cleaner 29 removes toner remaining on the photoconductor drum 24 after the primary transfer.

[0021] The printer unit 18 includes a secondary transfer roller 32. The secondary transfer roller 32 faces the backup roller 40 via the intermediate transfer belt 21. The secondary transfer roller 32 performs secondary transfer of the color toner images on the intermediate transfer belt 21 all at once onto a sheet. In the following description, the term "toner image" may refer to either a color toner image or a toner image of only one color. The toner image may be a toner image using a decolorizable toner.

[0022] The transport path 533 is a transport path from the junction 544 to the branching portion 644. The transport path 633 is a transport path that passes through the inside of the double-sided printing device 38, and is a transport path from the branching portion 644 to the junction 544. The transport path 733 is a transport path from the branching portion 644 to the paper discharge tray 20.

[0023] The leading edge of a sheet taken out from the paper feed cassette 516 or the manual feed tray 716 is abutted against a portion where the two registration rollers 31 are in contact with each other. The sheet abutted against the registration rollers 31 has its inclination corrected. The image formation control unit 100 starts the rotation of the registration rollers 31 in accordance with the position of the toner image on the rotating intermediate transfer belt 21, and moves the sheet to the position of the secondary transfer roller 32. The image formation control unit 100 secondarily transfers the toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 21 to the sheet by the secondary transfer roller 32. The image formation control unit 100 conveys the sheet to the conveying path 533, and fixes the toner image to the sheet by the fixing device 34, thereby forming an image. The image formation control unit 100 conveys the sheet on which the image has been formed to the conveying path 733, and discharges the sheet.

[0024] In the case of double-sided printing, the image formation control unit 100 conveys the sheet with an image formed on the front side to the conveying path 733. After the entire sheet passes through the branching section 644, the image formation control unit 100 switches back and conveys the sheet to the conveying path 633. Thereafter, the image formation control unit 100 conveys the sheet to the junction section 544 via the conveying path in the double-sided printing device 38, and conveys the sheet to the conveying path 533 via the registration rollers 31. Then, the image formation control unit 100 fixes the toner image by the fixing device 34 to form an image on the back side of the sheet. The image formation control unit 100 conveys the sheet with the image formed on the back side to the conveying path 733, and then discharges the sheet.

[0025] Before the image formed in the printer unit 18 is secondarily transferred by the secondary transfer roller 32, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photoconductor drum 24 from the exposure scanning head 27. The electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor drum 24 is primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 21 as a toner image. Furthermore, the toner image primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 21 is secondarily transferred to the wireless tag sheet transported to the position of the registration roller 31.

[0026] Next, a functional block diagram of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

[0027] In FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 10 includes an image forming control unit 100, a control panel 13, and a printer unit 18.

[0028] The control panel 13 includes input keys and a display unit. For example, the input keys accept input from a user. For example, the display unit is a touch panel type. The display unit accepts the input from the user and displays it to the user. For example, the control panel 13 displays items related to the operation of the image forming apparatus 10 on the display unit in a configurable manner. The control panel 13 notifies the image formation control unit 100 of the items set by the user.

[0029] The image forming control unit 100 includes a calculation device 51 and a storage device 52. The calculation device 51 controls the control panel 13 and the printer unit 18 in accordance with an image processing program stored in the storage device 52.

[0030] The arithmetic device 51 is, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), etc. The storage device 52 is, for example, a read only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD), etc.

[0031] The communication unit 53 controls the overall communication of the image forming apparatus 10. For example, the communication unit 53 performs communication via a LAN (Local Area Network) or the Internet. The communication unit 53 receives print data (for example, data described in a page description language) indicating an image to be printed from a host such as a PC (Personal Computer), and stores the received print data in the storage device 52.

[0032] The image data expansion unit 54 determines printing conditions from the print data received by the communication unit 53 and stored in the memory device 52, and expands the data into data that can be printed by the printer unit 18 (e.g., raster data, etc.) and stores it in the memory device 52.

[0033] The printer unit 18 includes the fixing device 34, the secondary transfer roller 32, and the developing device 28 described above. Note that Fig. 2 shows only a part of the configuration of the printer unit 18 described in Fig. 1. The printer unit 18 forms an image on a sheet based on the data stored in the storage device 52 by the image data expansion unit 54.

[0034] Next, an example of image quality abnormality will be described. In the following description, an image that the printer unit 18 prints on a sheet will be referred to as a print image. An image actually printed on a sheet will be referred to as a sheet image. The print image is specifically an image indicated by the print data described above.

[0035] 3A and 3B are diagrams showing an example of hot offset, which is one type of image quality abnormality. Hot offset is an image quality abnormality in which toner transfers to a roller constituting the fixing device 34, causing the image to become dirty.

[0036] Fig. 3A is a diagram showing an image for printing. The image for printing includes an image 210. The image 210 is an image showing a character string "user print image". Fig. 3B is a diagram showing a sheet image in which hot offset has occurred. The sheet image includes an image 211 and an image 212.

[0037] Image 211 is an image in which a part of the "user print image" has been transferred to the rollers constituting the fixing device 34, resulting in a hollowed-out image. Image 212 is an image in which toner transferred to the fixing device 34 has stuck to the rear half of the sheet that passes after image 211 has passed through the fixing device 34. In this way, hot offset is an image quality abnormality in which an image sticks to a position shifted in the transport direction of the sheet on which it is printed.

[0038] 4A and 4B are diagrams showing an example of a ghost, which is one type of image quality abnormality. A ghost is an image quality abnormality in which an electrostatic latent image representing the image to be printed remains on the photoconductor drum 24, causing unevenness in the subsequently printed image due to this electrostatic latent image. This unevenness is often seen when the subsequently printed image is a halftone image (light).

[0039] 4A is a diagram showing an image for printing. The image for printing includes an image 220 and an image 230. The image 220 is an image showing a character string "user print image." The image 230 is a diagram showing a solid color image.

[0040] Fig. 4B is a diagram showing a sheet image in which a ghost has occurred. Fig. 4B includes an image 221 and an image 231. Image 221 has no abnormality and is printed as image 220. On the other hand, image 232 has the character string "user print image" printed as an unevenness. In this way, hot offset is an image quality abnormality in which unevenness occurs in a position shifted in the transport direction of the medium on which the image is printed.

[0041] Both hot offset and ghosting are image quality abnormalities in which an image reappears at the same size. For this reason, it is bothersome and difficult for the user to input the image itself, as in the past. Furthermore, even if the user simply specifies the position, it is not possible to convey to the serviceman what kind of abnormality is occurring.

[0042] Next, a user interface for a user to input information regarding image quality abnormalities will be described. In the description of this user interface, a sheet image in which a ghost occurs will be taken as an example. Figures 5A, 5B, and 5C are diagrams showing screens displayed on the display unit of the control panel 13.

[0043] 5A is a diagram showing an example of a selection screen 250. The selection screen 250 is a screen for a user to select a print image corresponding to a sheet image in which an image quality abnormality has occurred. The image formation control unit 100 stores the print image in the storage device 52 every time printing is performed. In addition, the image formation control unit 100 stores the image formation conditions when the print image was printed together with the print image in the storage device 52, in association with the print image. The image formation conditions will be described later.

[0044] A print image is displayed for each job on the selection screen 250. In the case of Fig. 5A, print images for two jobs, job A and job B, are displayed. Note that the "user print image" and "A", "B", etc. in the print images shown in Fig. 5A are not descriptive character strings or symbols, but images to be printed on a sheet.

[0045] As an example, job A is a job in which four pages are printed. Print images 251, 252, 253, and 254 indicate print images in job A. Print image 251 indicates the first page, print image 252 indicates the second page, print image 253 indicates the third page, and print image 254 indicates the fourth page.

[0046] Job B is, as an example, a job in which one page is printed. Print image 255 shows a print image in job B. Print image 253 is a print image showing the first page.

[0047] When the number of pages printed is greater than can fit on the selection screen 250, such as job A, the print images can be displayed by horizontal scrolling via a user operation. Also, the print images for the job next to job B can be displayed by vertical scrolling via a user operation. On the selection screen 250, the user selects the print images corresponding to the sheet image in which the image quality abnormality occurred.

[0048] When the image to be printed is selected, an area designation screen is displayed. FIG. 5B is a diagram showing an example of the area designation screen 260. The area designation screen 260 is a screen for allowing the user to designate an area in the image to be printed. The area here refers to an area including an image in the image to be printed that corresponds to an image in which an image abnormality has occurred in the sheet image. In the following description, the image in the image to be printed that corresponds to an image in which an image abnormality has occurred is referred to as an "abnormal original image."

[0049] A method of specifying an area includes a method in which the user traces the display device with a finger or a stylus pen so as to include the original abnormal image. As described above, since the display device is provided with a touch panel, the image formation control unit 100 can acquire the trajectory traced with a finger or the like. The specified specified area is displayed as area 261 as shown in FIG. 5B. When the user completes the designation of the specified area, the user touches designation completion button 262. Note that it is preferable for the user to designate the area by drawing a closed curve, but if the trajectory traced by the user is not a closed curve, the image formation control unit 100 interpolates the two end points of the trajectory with straight lines to make it a closed curve.

[0050] When the designation completion button 262 is touched, a superimposition position designation screen is displayed. Fig. 5C is a diagram showing an example of the superimposition position designation screen 270. The superimposition position designation screen 270 is a screen for allowing the user to designate a superimposition position at which an area of ​​the same shape as the designated area designated by the area designation screen 260 is to be superimposed on the image to be printed. The superimposition position designation screen 270 shown in Fig. 5C shows the superimposition position designation screen after a superimposition position has already been designated.

[0051] The method of specifying the superimposition position includes a method in which the user touches the superimposition position or drags the area 261 to the superimposition position. The user specifies the superimposition position where hot offset or ghosting occurs. When the superimposition position is specified, the image formation control unit 100 displays the image within the specified area in an area of ​​the same shape superimposed on the superimposition position. As a result, the abnormal original image is displayed on the image to be printed, as shown in FIG. 5C.

[0052] The superimposition position designation screen 270 can further designate color and transparency. The color is the color of the image within the area displayed in the area superimposed at the superimposition position. In other words, it is the color of the image within the area actually printed as hot offset or ghost. The user can select a color or no color from the color selection button 272. The user can select any of Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan), B (black), and W (white) as the color. When no color is selected, the user selects "As is." In FIG. 5C, the colors YMCKW are selected as an example, but any color may be selected.

[0053] The transparency is the transparency of the image within the area displayed in the area superimposed at the superimposition position. In other words, it is the transparency of the image within the area actually printed as hot offset or ghost. The user can select either semi-transparent or opaque from the transparency button 273. In FIG. 5C, either semi-transparent or opaque is selectable as an example, but any selection or specification method may be used, such as specifying the transparency as a percentage (%). Note that the selection of color and the selection of transparency may be arbitrary.

[0054] When the user specifies the superimposition position, selects the color and transparency, and touches the send button 274, user-specified information indicating the area specified on the area specification screen 260 and the superimposition position specified on the superimposition position specification screen 270 is sent to a server (not shown). The server is configured so that a service person can access it. The service person can view the user-specified information by accessing the server.

[0055] The user-specified information includes the area and the superimposition position, as well as the selected color (including "as is") and transparency. The color and transparency may be selected arbitrarily. If no color or transparency is selected, the user-specified information includes information indicating no selection.

[0056] Furthermore, in addition to the user-specified information, condition information indicating the image forming conditions is also transmitted. In this embodiment, the image forming conditions include transfer temperature, life, primary transfer bias voltage, and print direction. The transfer temperature is the temperature when the toner image is fixed to the sheet by the fixing device 34. The life indicates the elapsed time and the number of rotations of the photosensitive drum 24 after the start of use. The primary transfer bias voltage indicates the voltage applied by the electrostatic charger 26. The print direction indicates the conveying direction of the sheet when the printer unit 18 forms an image to be printed on the sheet. These image forming conditions are merely examples, and are not limited thereto.

[0057] From the above, the service technician can view the area, the overlay position, the color, the transparency, and the image forming conditions. Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a screen viewed by the service technician. This screen is displayed on, for example, a PC (Personal Computer) or a smartphone.

[0058] 6, the serviceman viewing screen 300 is composed of print direction information 310, area information 321, abnormal image information 322, misalignment information 323, and various information columns 330. The print direction information 310 indicates the print direction among the image forming conditions with an arrow. The area information 321 indicates the area specified on the area specification screen 260. The area is indicated by a solid line.

[0059] The abnormal image information 322 indicates the superimposition position specified on the superimposition position specification screen 270. The abnormal image information 322 is displayed in a color selected by the color selection button 272, and at a transparency selected by the transparency button 273. The area superimposed on the superimposition position is indicated by a dashed line. The deviation amount indicates the deviation amount (mm) between the area and the superimposition position in the printing direction.

[0060] The various information column 330 is a column that displays the ID, user name, color, transparency, transfer temperature, life, and primary transfer bias voltage. The ID is identification information that uniquely identifies the image forming apparatus 10. The user name indicates the name of the user of the image forming apparatus 10. The color indicates the color selected by the color selection button 272. The transparency indicates the transparency selected by the transparency button 273. The transfer temperature, life, and primary transfer bias voltage are as described above in the image formation conditions.

[0061] In this way, the serviceman can obtain detailed information about the abnormality. As shown in Fig. 6, the serviceman is shown area information 321 and abnormal image information 322, but the contents of the image are not shown at all, so security can be ensured. Note that the server or image formation control unit 100 may have a function of estimating the part of the printer unit 18 that caused the image quality abnormality from the amount of misalignment, color, and transparency, and may display this on the serviceman viewing screen 300.

[0062] 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing of the image forming apparatus 10. This processing is triggered by, for example, a user operation on the control panel 13. The image forming control unit 100 displays a selection screen (see FIG. 5A) (ACT101). When the user completes the selection of an image to be printed (ACT102: YES), the image forming control unit 100 displays an area designation screen (see FIG. 5B) (ACT103). When the user completes the designation of an area (ACT104: YES), the image forming control unit 100 displays a superimposition position designation screen (see FIG. 5C) (ACT105).

[0063] The image formation control unit 100 judges whether or not the color selection is completed by the color selection button 272 (ACT106). If the color selection is not completed (ACT106: NO), the image formation control unit 100 proceeds to ACT108. On the other hand, if the color selection is completed (ACT106: YES), the image formation control unit 100 temporarily stores information indicating the selected color in the storage device 52 (ACT107).

[0064] The image formation control unit 100 judges whether the selection of the transparency is completed by the transparency button 273 (ACT108). If the selection of the transparency is not completed (ACT108: NO), the image formation control unit 100 proceeds to ACT110. On the other hand, if the selection of the transparency is completed (ACT108: YES), the image formation control unit 100 temporarily stores information indicating the selected transparency in the storage device 52 (ACT109).

[0065] The image formation control unit 100 judges whether the designation of the superimposition position is completed (ACT110). If the designation of the superimposition position is not completed (ACT110: NO), the image formation control unit 100 proceeds to ACT112. On the other hand, if the designation of the superimposition position is completed (ACT110: YES), the image formation control unit 100 temporarily stores information indicating the designated superimposition position in the storage device 52 (ACT111).

[0066] The image formation control unit 100 judges whether the send button 274 has been touched (ACT112). If the send button 274 has not been touched (ACT112: NO), the image formation control unit 100 proceeds to ACT106. On the other hand, if the send button 274 has been touched (ACT112: YES), the image formation control unit 100 transmits the user-specified information and the image formation conditions (ACT113) and ends the process.

[0067] The image formation control unit 100 transmits the user-specified information to the above-mentioned server by referring to the information stored in the storage device 52 in ACTs 107, 109, and 111. The image formation control unit 100 also transmits the image formation conditions by referring to the image formation conditions stored in the storage device 52 in association with the image for printing selected in ACT 102.

[0068] In ACT107, the image formation control unit 100 stores the color, but if the display unit is capable of color display, the area may be displayed in the selected color. In ACT108, the image formation control unit 100 stores the transparency, but the area may be displayed in the selected transparency.

[0069] The information indicating the area and the superimposition position transmitted as the user-designated information may be, for example, image data indicating the area and the superimposition position, or vector data of a closed line indicating the area and the superimposition position.

[0070] According to the embodiment described above, the user only needs to specify an area and a superimposition position, and therefore the user can easily input information related to image quality abnormalities.

[0071] Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents described in the claims, as well as in the scope and spirit of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0072] 10..., 13...control panel, 18...printer unit, 100...image formation control unit, 28...developing device, 32...secondary transfer roller, 34...fixing device, 51...arithmetic unit, 52...storage device, 53...communication unit, 54...image data development unit

Claims

1. an image forming unit that forms a print image indicated by the image data on a sheet; A display unit that displays the image for printing; an area designation unit that allows a user to designate a partial area within the image to be printed displayed by the display unit; a superimposition position designation section that allows the user to designate a superimposition position at which a region having the same shape as the designated region designated by the region designation section is to be superimposed on the image to be printed; a transmission unit that transmits user-designated information indicating the designated area and the superimposition position to a higher-level device; An image forming apparatus comprising:

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the display unit displays the image within the designated area in an area of ​​the same shape superimposed on the superimposition position.

3. the user-designated information includes a color and a transparency of the image within the same-shaped region displayed in the same-shaped region superimposed at the superimposition position; 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the color and the transparency of the same-shape region are designated by the user.

4. the transmission unit transmits, in addition to the user-specified information, image forming conditions when the print image is formed on a sheet; 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming conditions include at least one of a transfer temperature, a life, a primary transfer bias voltage, and a print direction.

5. A method for controlling an image forming apparatus including an image forming unit that forms a print image indicated by image data on a sheet, comprising: a display step in which a display unit displays the image for printing; a region designation step in which a region designation unit allows a user to designate a partial region within the image for printing displayed in the display step; a superimposition position designation step in which a superimposition position designation unit allows the user to designate a superimposition position at which a region having the same shape as the designated region designated in the region designation step is superimposed on the image to be printed; a transmitting step in which a transmitting unit transmits user designated information indicating the designated area and the superimposition position to a higher-level device; A control method comprising:

Images