Image-forming apparatus

Abstract

A low-cost image-forming apparatus capable of handling color image printing without reducing the performance of monochrome image printing. When the apparatus functions as a copier, a control unit (11) causes an image processing unit (13) to convert a color image scanned by a color image scanner unit (12) into a monochrome image when a monochrome image printout is selected by a color/monochrome switching key (18) of an operation unit (17), and causes a monochrome printer unit (14) to print out that image. When a color image printout is selected, a color image scanned by the color image scanner unit (12) is converted to transmission data corresponding to an external color printer (31) or (32), the data is transmitted to an external color printer via an external interface (23) or a LAN interface (24), and the color image is printed out. The price of the image-forming apparatus can be held low by providing only a monochrome printer unit (14), because color images are not printed out all that frequently.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.