Information processing apparatus, image forming apparatus, and non-transitory computer readable medium with communication of printer layout information in response to image processing and reading speed

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• a processor configured to acquire print data from an information processing apparatus;
• a plurality of image forming parts that are aligned from an upstream side toward a downstream side in a moving direction of a transfer target that moves and form images of respective different colors on the transfer target;
• and
• in response to an image processing speed for printing the image at the image forming apparatus selected from a plurality of image forming apparatuses being lower than a lowest image reading speed for acquiring the print data from the scanner, the processor is configured to:
• provide layout information for the plurality of image forming parts, and
• receive, from the information processing apparatus, pieces of image information for the respective colors used by the plurality of image forming parts from the print data during a generation period, wherein
• image information used by an image forming part located on an upstream side in the moving direction is received from the information processing apparatus in a former half of the generation period.

A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program causing a computer to execute a process, the process comprising:

• acquiring print data from a scanner;
• selecting a printer from a plurality of printers connected to and operable by an information processing apparatus;
• generating pieces of image information for the respective colors used by a plurality of image forming parts of the printer from the print data during a generation period;
• obtaining an image processing speed for printing the image at the printer selected from the plurality of printers;
• and
• in response to the image processing speed being lower than a lowest image reading speed for acquiring the print data from the scanner:
• acquiring layout information for the plurality of image forming parts of the printer that are aligned from an upstream side toward a downstream side in a moving direction of a transfer target that moves and form images of respective different colors on the transfer target, and
• generating image information used by an image forming part located on an upstream side in the moving direction more in a former half of the generation period than in a latter half of the generation period.