Image forming apparatus and computer readable recording medium

An image forming apparatus which generates print data based on control data for page print which is inputted from an external device and which forms an image based on the print data, comprising:

• a control unit including a plurality of arithmetic processing units, wherein the control unit generates the print data by carrying out a rasterizing process of one page in band unit constituted by a predetermined number of lines based on the control data for page print and sequentially outputs the generated print data at output timings defined in a constant output interval;
• and
• an image forming unit for forming an image based on the print data which is outputted by the control unit,
• wherein
• when the control unit determines that generation of print data is to be completed within the output interval for all of bands in the one page, the control unit designates any one arithmetic processing unit among the plurality of arithmetic processing units to carry out rasterizing process of each band, starts the rasterizing process of each band by the designated arithmetic processing unit from a first band in the constant output interval to generate print data and outputs the generated print data at an output timing corresponded to each band,
• when the control unit determines that a generation of print data is not to be completed within the output interval for any one band in the one page, the control unit executes a rasterizing process for one or a plurality of bands by using two or more arithmetic processing units among the plurality of arithmetic processing units in parallel to generate print data so that the generation of the print data of the one band is to be finished in time for an output timing corresponded to the one band, and the control unit outputs the generated print data at the output timing corresponded to the one band.