Image forming apparatus and image forming method

Abstract

Embodiments described herein are directed to an image forming apparatus and an image forming method. The image forming apparatus includes a feeding mechanism, an image forming unit, and a control unit. The feeding mechanism is configured to feed a recording medium. The image forming unit is configured to form an image on the recording medium. The control unit is configured to calculate a duty cycle for a print data unit and control the image forming unit to form the image based on the calculated duty cycle, thereby reducing electrical power consumption for forming the image. The image forming method includes generating, if the duty cycle for the print data unit is greater than a predetermined value, a culling mask pattern, converting image data of the print data unit with the culling mask pattern, and forming the image using the converted image data in the recording medium.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.