Image processing apparatus, image forming apparatus, image processing method, and recording medium

An image processing apparatus comprising:

• a watermark adding section for adding a watermark for copy control to an image, where the watermark includes a dot pattern which becomes visible as a result of making a copy, the dot pattern being indicative of an illegal copy warning;
• and
• a pattern adding section for adding a predetermined pattern to an appropriate position of an image, wherein
• the watermark adding section includes:
• a watermark generating section for generating at least any one of a first watermark and a second watermark which include a dot pattern indicative of the illegal copy warning, where the dot pattern of the first watermark becomes invisible and the dot pattern of the second watermark becomes visible as a result of making a copy;
• a determining section for determining whether or not the pattern adding section adds the predetermined pattern to the image, when the first watermark for copy control generated by the watermark generating section is added to the image;
• and
• a region setting section for setting a region where the predetermined pattern is to be appeared at a different portion where the dot pattern indicative of the illegal copy warning is added, when the determining section determines that the predetermined pattern is to be added to the image.

An image processing method of performing at least any one of an addition, to an image, of a watermark for copy control where the watermark includes a dot pattern which becomes visible as a result of making a copy, the dot pattern being indicative of an illegal copy warning, and an addition of a predetermined pattern to an appropriate position of an image, the method comprising:

• generating a watermark for copy control where the watermark includes a dot pattern which becomes invisible as a result of making a copy, the dot pattern being indicative of the illegal copy warning;
• determining whether or not the predetermined pattern is to be added to the image, when the generated watermark for copy control is added to the image;
• and
• setting a region where the predetermined pattern is to be appeared at a different portion where the dot pattern indicative of the illegal copy warning is added, when it is determined that the predetermined pattern is to be added to the image.

A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a computer program for causing a computer to execute at least any one of an addition, to an image, of a watermark for copy control where the watermark includes a dot pattern which becomes visible as a result of making a copy, the dot pattern being indicative of an illegal copy warning, and an addition of a predetermined pattern to an appropriate position of an image, the computer program comprising the steps of:

• causing the computer to generate a watermark for copy control where the watermark includes a dot pattern which becomes invisible in as a result of making a copy, the dot pattern being indicative of the illegal copy warning;
• causing the computer to determine whether or not the predetermined pattern is to be added to the image, when the generated watermark for copy control is added to the image;
• and
• causing the computer to set a region where the predetermined pattern is to be appeared at a different portion where the dot pattern indicative of the illegal copy warning is added, when it is determined that the predetermined pattern is to be added to the image.