Image forming apparatus detecting color patterns and generating interleaf images at predetermined position

An image forming method comprising:

• a first step of, with a computer implemented main image forming section, imposing a plurality of jobs and thereby generating at least one piece of main image data;
• and
• a second step of, with a computer implemented interleaf image forming section, generating an interleaf image depending on the jobs of the main image data and generating interleaf image data including the interleaf image,
• wherein, in the second step, position of the jobs of the main image data are detected with a job position detector, and a position of the interleaf image established on the interleaf image data based on the detected position of the jobs,
• in the second step, two pieces of main image data to be printed before and after printing of an image based on the interleaf image data are read with a data reader, based on a print order in which the main image data and the interleaf image data are printed;
• a color or pattern of the side edges of the jobs of the two pieces of main image data is extracted with a job state extractor;
• and
• the interleaf image based on the color or pattern extracted by the job state extractor is generated with an image generator,
• the image forming method further comprising a third step of, with a color/pattern establishing section, automatically establishing a color of the image formed in an area of the interleaf image data to have a color difference of 20 or greater in a device-independent space, based on the color of the side edges of the jobs extracted by the job state extractor.

An image output system comprising:

• a main image forming section for imposing a plurality of jobs and thereby generating at least one piece of main image data;
• an interleaf image forming section for generating an interleaf image depending on the jobs of the main image data and generating interleaf image data including the interleaf image;
• and
• a print controller for managing the number of prints of an image based on the main image data and a print order in which images based on the main image data and the interleaf image data are printed, as print information for use in a case where the images based on the main image data and the interleaf image data are printed on the same type of print mediums,
• wherein the interleaf image forming section includes a job position detector for detecting positions of the jobs of the main image data, and establishes a position of the interleaf image on the interleaf image data based on the detected positions of the jobs,
• the interleaf image forming section comprises:
• a data reader for reading two pieces of main image data to be printed before and after printing of an image based on the interleaf image data based on a print order in which the main image data and the interleaf image data are printed;
• a job state extractor for extracting a color or pattern of the side edges of the jobs of the two pieces of main image data;
• and
• an image generator for generating the interleaf image based on the color or pattern extracted by the job state extractor, and
• the image output system further comprising a color/pattern establishing section for automatically establishing a color of the image formed in an area of the interleaf image data to have a color difference of 20 or greater in a device-independent space, based on the color of the side edges of the jobs extracted by the job state extractor.

A non-transitory recording medium storing therein a program for enabling a computer to function as:

• a main image forming section for imposing a plurality of jobs and thereby generating at least one piece of main image data;
• and
• an interleaf image forming section for generating an interleaf image depending on the jobs of the main image data and generating interleaf image data including the interleaf image,
• wherein the interleaf image forming section includes a job position detector for detecting positions of the jobs of the main image data, and establishes a position of the interleaf image on the interleaf image data based on the detected positions of the jobs,
• the interleaf image forming section comprises:
• a data reader for reading two pieces of main image data to be printed before and after printing of an image based on the interleaf image data based on a print order in which the main image data and the interleaf image data are printed;
• a job state extractor for extracting a color or pattern of the side edges of the jobs of the two pieces of main image data;
• and
• an image generator for generating the interleaf image based on the color or pattern extracted by the job state extractor, and
• the program further enable the computer to function as a color/pattern establishing section for automatically establishing a color of the image formed in an area of the interleaf image data to have a color difference of 20 or greater in a device-independent space, based on the color of the side edges of the jobs extracted by the job state extractor.