Image formation apparatus, image processing apparatus, image synthesis method, image processing method and storage medium

• US 6,678,069 B1
• Filed: 06/29/1999
• Issued: 01/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Abe, Yoshinori
• Primary Examiner(s): WALLERSON, MARK E
• Application Number:
  US09/342,894
• Time in Patent Office: 1,659 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.11, 358/1.12, 358/1.13, 358/1.14, 358/1.15, 358/1.16, 358/1.17, 358/1.18, 358/450, 358/540
• US Class Current: 358/1.18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00411 the display also being used for user input, e.g. touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00421 using drop-down menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00427 using a menu list H04N1/00421, H04N1/00424, H04N1/00429 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00432 using tabs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00482 outputting a plurality of job set-up options, e.g. number of copies, paper size or resolution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32459 for changing the arrangement of the stored data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32486 Storage for making a plurality of copies or reproductions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0091 Digital copier; digital 'photocopier' H04N2201/0093 and H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3222 of processing required or performed, e.g. forwarding, urgent or confidential handling
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3247 Data linking a set of images to one another, e.g. sequence, burst or continuous capture mode

Abstract

Controlling is performed such that image data input from an image readout unit for reading an original or input a computer have been previously stored as plural form images in an image storage unit, the arbitrary form image is read for each page in response to form designation operation at an operation unit, and a form image selection method is set to be different for each of plural operation modes of an image formation apparatus, in order to remarkably improve working efficiency in case of form image synthesis.

Claims

1. An image processing apparatus for processing a job that includes a series of image data input from an image generation source and outputs the processed data to an image formation apparatus which can selectively perform one of a plurality of operation modes for the job, said image processing apparatus comprising:

setting means for setting one of the plurality of operation modes for the job;

storage means for storing form image data for a plurality of forms in a storage area;

selection means for enabling selection of one or more of the plurality of forms to be used in the job from the form image data stored in the storage area;

synthesis output means for performing a synthesis process for the one or more forms selected for the job by said selection means and the image data of the job input from the image generation source, and outputting the data subjected to the synthesis process to the image formation apparatus; and

control means for controlling said selection means so as to change a number of candidates of forms selectable for the job by said selection means in accordance with the operation mode set for the job by said setting means.

2. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said setting means sets any of the plurality of operation modes, and said control means controls said selection means to change the number of candidates of forms selectable by said selection means in each of the plurality of operation modes.

3. An image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of operation modes includes a first operation mode to form an image on one face of a sheet and a second operation mode to form images on two faces of the sheet, on the basis of the image data input from said image generation source, and

wherein said control means controls said selection means to set the number of candidates of forms selectable by said selection means to be one when the first operation mode is set by said setting means, and to set the number of candidates of forms selectable by said selection means to be two when the second operation mode is set by said setting means.

4. An image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of operation modes further includes a third operation mode to form images on ordinary sheets, a front cover sheet for a front cover and a back cover sheet for a back cover and to mix the image-formed ordinary, front cover and back cover sheets with others, and

wherein said control means controls said selection means such that the number of candidates of forms selectable by said selection means is set to be three when the third operation mode is set by said setting means.

5. An image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of operation modes includes a first operation mode to form an image on one face of a sheet, a second operation mode to form images on two faces of the sheet, and a third operation mode to form images on plain sheets and non-plain sheets and to mix the image-formed plain and non-plain sheets with others, on the basis of the image data input from the image generation source, and

wherein said control means controls said selection means such that the number of candidates of forms selectable by said selection means is set to be one when the first operation mode is set by said setting means, the number of candidates of forms selectable by said selection means is set to be two when the second operation mode is set, and the number of candidates of forms selectable by said selection means is set to be the number obtained by adding one to the number corresponding to the number of non-plain sheets to be mixed with the plain sheets when the third operation mode is set.

6. An image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of operation modes includes a first operation mode to form the image on two faces of a sheet, and a second operation mode to form the images on plain sheets and non-plain sheets and to mix the image-formed plain and non-plain sheets with others, and

wherein the image data formed on the first face of the sheet and stored in the storage area is different from the image data formed on the second face of the sheet and stored in the storage area when the first operation mode is set by said setting means, and the image data formed on the plain sheet and stored in the storage area is different from the image data formed on the non-plain sheet and stored in the storage area when the second operation mode is set.

7. An image processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the second operation mode is to mix image-formed plain sheet and plural non-plain sheets with others and to set the image data stored in the storage area selectable for each of the plural non-plain sheets.

8. An image processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the non-plain sheet is a sheet for the cover.

9. An image processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the non-plain sheet is an interleaf to be inserted between successive plain sheets.

10. An image processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising display means for displaying information concerning the form image data for the plurality of forms stored in the storage area, and

wherein said selection means enables selection of any of the plurality of forms from among the form image data stored in the storage area, on the basis of the information displayed by said display means, and

wherein said control means sets the displayed contents of said display means to be different for each of the plurality of operation modes.

11. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image generation source is an image readout apparatus or a host computer for reading an original image.

12. An image processing apparatus for processing a job that includes a series of image data input from an image generation source and outputs the processed data to an image formation apparatus which can selectively perform one of a plurality of operation modes for the job, said image processing apparatus comprising:

storage means for storing image data to be synthesized to the image data input from the image generation source, in a storage area;

selection means for selecting image data from the image data stored in the storage area;

synthesis output means for performing a synthesis process for the image data selected by said selection means and the image data input from the image generation source, and outputting the data subjected to the synthesis process to the image formation apparatus; and

control means for performing controlling to set a selection method of said selection means to be different for each of the plurality of operation modes included in the image formation apparatus.

13. An image processing apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising display means for displaying information concerning the image data stored in the storage area, and

wherein said selection means selects any of the image data from the image data stored in the storage area, on the basis of the information displayed by said display means, and

wherein said control means sets the displayed contents of said display means to be different for each of the plurality of operation modes.

14. An image processing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said control means determines the number of image data selectable by said selection means for each of the plurality of operation modes.

15. An image processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the plurality of operation modes includes a first operation mode to form the image on one face of a sheet, a second operation mode to form the images on two faces of the sheet, and a third operation mode to form the images on plain sheets and non-plain sheets and to mix the image-formed plain and non-plain sheets with others, on the basis of the image data input from the image generation source, and

wherein said control means performs controlling such that the number of image data selectable by said selection means is set to be one when the first operation mode is set by said setting means, the number of image data selectable by said selection means is set to be two when the second operation mode is set, and the number of image data selectable by said selection means is set to be the number obtained by adding one to the number corresponding to a number of non-plain sheets to be mixed with the plain sheets when the third operation mode is set.

16. An image processing apparatus for performing an image process to image data input from an image generation source and outputting the processed image data to an image formation apparatus for forming an image on a sheet on the basis of the image data and an operation mode, said image processing apparatus comprising:

storage means for storing image data to be synthesized to the image data input from the image generation source, in a storage area;

selection means for selecting image data from the image data stored in the storage area; and

synthesis output means for performing a synthesis process for the image data selected by said selection means and the image data input from the image generation source, and outputting the data subjected to the synthesis process to the image formation apparatus,

wherein, in a case where the operation mode of said image formation apparatus is a mode to form images on plain sheets and non-plain sheets and to mix the image-formed plain and non-plain sheets with others, the maximum number of image data selectable by said selection means is set to be the number obtained by adding one to the number corresponding to a number of non-plain sheets to be mixed with the plain sheets.

17. An image processing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the non-plain sheets are cover sheets, and the cover sheets include a front cover sheet and a back cover sheet.

18. An image processing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the non-plain sheet is an interleaf to be inserted between successive plain sheets.

19. An image processing apparatus for performing an image process to image data input from an image generation source and outputting the processed image data to an image formation apparatus for forming an image on a sheet on the basis of the image data and an operation mode, said image processing apparatus comprising:

setting means for setting the operation mode of the image formation apparatus;

storage means for storing image data to be synthesized to image data input from the image generation source, in a storage area;

selection means for selecting image data from the image data stored in the storage area; and

synthesis output means for performing a synthesis process for the image data selected by said selection means and the image data input from the image generation source, and outputting the data subjected to the synthesis process to the image formation apparatus,

wherein, when the operation mode set by said setting means is a mode to form images on two faces of a sheet, said selection means can independently select the image data to be formed on a first face of the sheet and the image data to be formed on a second face of the sheet, and

when the operation mode is a mode to form images on plain sheets and non-plain sheets and to mix the image-formed plain and non-plain sheets with others, said selection means can independently select the image data to be formed on the plain sheet and the image data to be formed on the non-plain sheet.

20. An image processing method for processing a job that includes a series of image data input from an image generation source and outputting the processed data to an image formation apparatus which can selectively perform one of a plurality of operation modes for the job, said method comprising:

a setting step of setting one of the plurality of operation modes for the job;

a storage step of storing form image data for a plurality of forms in a storage area;

a selection step of enabling selection of one or more forms to be used in the job from the form image data stored in the storage area;

a synthesis output step of performing a synthesis process for the one or more forms selected for the job in said selection step and the image data of the job input from the image generation source, and outputting the data subjected to the synthesis process to the image formation apparatus; and

a control step of controlling a number of candidates of forms selectable for the job in said selection step in accordance with the operation mode set for the job in said setting step.

21. An image processing method according to claim 20, wherein in said setting step any of the plurality of operation modes is set, and in said control step the number of candidates of forms selectable in said selection step is determined in each of the plurality of operation modes.

22. An image processing method according to claim 21, wherein the plurality of operation modes includes a first operation mode to form the image on one face of a sheet and a second operation mode to form images on two faces of the sheet, on the basis of the image data input from the image generation source, and

wherein in said control step, controlling is performed to set the number of candidates of forms selectable in said selection step to be one when the first operation mode is set in said setting step, and to set the number of candidates of forms selectable in said selection step to be two when the second operation mode is set in said setting step.

23. An image processing method according to claim 22, wherein the plurality of operation modes further includes a third operation mode to form the images on plain sheets, a front cover sheet for a front cover and a back cover sheet for a back cover and to mix the image-formed plain, front cover and back cover sheets with others, and

wherein in said control step, controlling is performed such that the number of candidates of forms selectable in said selection step is set to be three when the third operation mode is set in said setting step.

24. An image processing method according to claim 21, wherein the plurality of operation modes includes a first operation mode to form the image on one face of a sheet, a second operation mode to form the images on two faces of the sheet, and a third operation mode to form the images on plain sheets and non-plain sheets and to mix the image-formed plain and non-plain sheets with others, on the basis of the image data input from the image generation source, and

wherein in said control step, controlling is performed such that the number of candidates of forms selectable in said selection step is set to be one when the first operation mode is set in said setting step, the number of candidates of forms selectable in said selection step is set to be two when the second operation mode is set, and the number of candidates of forms selectable in said selection step is set to be the number obtained by adding one to the number corresponding to the number of non-plain sheets to be mixed with the plain sheets when the third operation mode is set.

25. An image processing method according to claim 21, wherein the plurality of operation modes includes a first operation mode to form the image on two faces of a sheet, and a second operation mode to form the images on plain sheets and non-plain sheets and to mix the image-formed plain and non-plain sheets with others, and

wherein the image data formed on the first face of the sheet and stored in the storage area is different from the image data formed on the second face of the sheet and stored in the storage area when the first operation mode is set in said setting means, and the image data formed on the plain sheet and stored in the storage area is different from the image data formed on the non-plain sheet and stored in the storage area when the second operation mode is set.

26. An image processing method according to claim 25, wherein the second operation mode is to mix image-formed plain sheet and plural non-plain sheets with others and to set the image data stored in the storage area selectable for each of the plural non-plain sheets.

27. An image processing method according to claim 25, wherein the non-plain sheet is the sheet for the cover.

28. An image processing method according to claim 25, wherein the non-plain sheet is an interleaf to be inserted between the successive plain sheets.

29. An image processing method according to claim 21, further comprising a display step of displaying information concerning the form image data for the plurality of forms stored in the storage area, and

wherein in said selection step selection of the one or more forms from among the form image data stored in the storage area is enabled on the basis of the information displayed in said display step, and

wherein in said control step the displayed contents in said display step are set to be different for each of the plurality of operation modes.

30. An image processing method according to claim 20, wherein the image generation source is an image readout apparatus or a host computer for reading an original image.

31. An image processing method for processing a job that includes a series of image data input from an image generation source and outputting the processed data to an image formation apparatus which can selectively perform one of a plurality of operation modes for the job, said method comprising:

a storage step of storing image data to be synthesized to the image data input from the image generation source, in a storage area;

a selection step of selecting image data from the image data stored in the storage area;

a synthesis output step of performing a synthesis process for the image data selected in said selection step and the image data input from the image generation source, and outputting the data subjected to the synthesis process to the image formation apparatus; and

a control step of performing controlling to set a selection method in said selection step to be different for each of the plurality of operation modes included in the image formation apparatus.

32. An image processing method according to claim 31, further comprising a display step of displaying information concerning the image data stored in the storage area, and

wherein in said selection step image data is selected from the image data stored in the storage area, on the basis of the information displayed in said display step, and

wherein in said control step the displayed contents in said display step are set to be different for each of the plurality of operation modes.

33. An image processing method according to claim 31, wherein in said control step the number of image data selectable in said selection step is determined for each of the plurality of operation modes.

34. An image processing method according to claim 33, wherein the plurality of operation modes includes a first operation mode to form an image on one face of a sheet, a second operation mode to form images on two faces of the sheet, and a third operation mode to form images on plain sheets and non-plain sheets and to mix the image-formed plain and non-plain sheets with others, on the basis of the image data input from the image generation source, and

wherein in said control step controlling is performed such that the number of image data selectable in said selection step is set to be one when the first operation mode is set in said setting step, the number of image data selectable in said selection step is set to be two when the second operation mode is set, and the number of image data selectable in said selection step is set to be the number obtained by adding one to the number corresponding to the number of non-plain sheets to be mixed with the plain sheets when the third operation mode is set.

35. An image processing method for performing an image process to image data input from an image generation source and outputting the processed image data to an image formation apparatus for forming an image on a sheet on the basis of the image data and an operation mode, said method comprising:

a storage step of storing image data to be synthesized to the image data input from the image generation source, in a storage area;

a selection step of selecting image data from the image data stored in the storage area; and

a synthesis output step of performing a synthesis process for the image data selected in said selection step and the image data input from the image generation source, and outputting the data subjected to the synthesis process to the image formation apparatus,

wherein, in a case where the operation mode of the image formation apparatus is the mode to form the images on plain sheets and non-plain sheets and to mix the image-formed plain and non-plain sheets with others, the maximum number of image data selectable in said selection step is set to be the number obtained by adding one to the number corresponding to a number of non-plain sheets to be mixed with the plain sheets.

36. An image processing method according to claim 35, wherein the non-plain sheets are cover sheets, and the cover sheets include a front cover sheet and a back cover sheet.

37. An image processing method according to claim 35, wherein the non-plain sheet is an interleaf to be inserted between successive plain sheets.

38. An image processing method for performing an image process to image data input from an image generation source and outputting the processed image data to an image formation apparatus for forming an image on a sheet on the basis of the image data and an operation mode, said method comprising:

a setting step of setting the operation mode of the image formation apparatus;

a storage step of storing image data to be synthesized to the image data input from the image generation source, in a storage area;

a selection step of selecting image data from the image data stored in the storage area; and

a synthesis output step of performing a synthesis process for the image data selected in said selection step and the image data input from the image generation source, and outputting the data subjected to the synthesis process to the image formation apparatus,

wherein, in a case where the operation mode set in said setting step is a mode to form images on two faces of a sheet, it is possible in said selection step to independently select the image data to be formed on a first face of the sheet and the image data to be formed on a second face of the sheet, and

in a case where the operation mode is a mode to form images on plain sheets and non-plain sheets and to mix the image-formed plain and non-plain sheets with others, it is possible in said selection step to independently select the image data to be formed on the plain sheet and the image data to be formed on the non-plain sheet.

39. A computer-readable storage medium which stores a program to cause an image processing apparatus to process a job that includes a series of image data input from an image generation source and output the processed data to an image formation apparatus which can selectively perform one of a plurality of operation modes for the job, the program comprising code to execute:

a setting step of setting one of the plurality of operation modes for the job;

a storage step of storing form image data for a plurality of forms in a storage area;

a selection step of enabling selection of one or more of the plurality of forms to be used in the job from the form image data stored in the storage area;

a synthesis output step of performing a synthesis process for the one or more forms selected for the job in said selection step and the image data of the job input from the image generation source, and outputting the data subjected to the synthesis process to the image formation apparatus; and

a control step of controlling a number of candidates of forms selectable for the job in said selection step in accordance with the operation mode set for the job in said setting step.

40. A computer-readable storage medium according to claim 39, wherein in said setting step any of the plurality of operation modes is set, and in said control step the number of the candidates of forms selectable in said selection step is determined in each of the plurality of operation modes.

41. A computer-readable storage medium according to claim 40, wherein the plurality of operation modes includes a first operation mode to form the image on one face of a sheet and a second operation mode to form the images on two faces of the sheet, on the basis of the image data from the image generation source, and

wherein in said control step, controlling is performed to set the number of candidates of forms selectable in said selection step to be one when the first operation mode is set in said setting step, and to set the number of candidates of forms selectable in said selection step to be two when the second operation mode is set in said setting step.

42. A computer-readable storage medium according to claim 41, wherein the plurality of operation modes further includes a third operation mode to form the images on plain sheets, a front cover sheet for a front cover and a back cover sheet for a back cover and to mix the image-formed plain, front cover and back cover sheets with others, and

wherein in said control step, controlling is performed such that the number of candidates of forms selectable in said selection step is set to be three when the third operation mode is set in said setting step.

43. A computer-readable storage medium according to claim 40, wherein the plurality of operation modes includes a first operation mode to form the image on one face of a sheet, a second operation mode to form the images on two faces of the sheet, and a third operation mode to form the images on plain sheets and non-plain sheets and to mix the image-formed plain and non-plain sheets with others, on the basis of the image data input from the image generation source, and

wherein in said control step, controlling is performed such that the number of candidates of forms selectable in said selection step is set to be one when the first operation mode is set in said setting step, the number of candidates of forms selectable in said selection step is set to be two when the second operation mode is set, and the number of candidates of forms selectable in said selection step is set to be the number obtained by adding one to the number corresponding to the number of non-plain sheets to be mixed with the plain sheets when the third operation mode is set.

44. A computer-readable storage medium according to claim 40, wherein the plurality of operation modes includes a first operation mode to form the image on two faces of a sheet, and a second operation mode to form the images on plain sheets and non-plain sheets and to mix the image-formed plain and non-plain sheets with others, and

wherein the image data formed on the first face of the sheet and stored in the storage area is different from the image data formed on the second face of the sheet and stored in the storage area when the first operation mode is set in said setting means, and the image data formed on the plain sheet and stored in the storage area is different from the image data formed on the non-plain sheet and stored in the storage area when the second operation mode is set.

45. A computer-readable storage medium according to claim 44, wherein the second operation mode is to mix the image-formed plain sheet and plural non-plain sheets with others and to set the image data stored in the storage area selectable for each of the plural non-plain sheets.

46. A computer-readable storage medium according to claim 44, wherein the non-plain sheet is the sheet for the cover.

47. A computer-readable storage medium according to claim 44, wherein the non-plain sheet is an interleaf to be inserted between successive plain sheets.

48. A computer-readable storage medium according to claim 40, wherein said program causes the image processing apparatus to further execute a display step of displaying information concerning the form image data stored in the storage area,

wherein in said selection step selection of the one or more forms from the form image data stored in the storage area, on the basis of the information displayed in said display step, and

wherein in said control step the displayed contents in said display step are set to be different for each of the plurality of operation modes.

49. A computer-readable storage medium according to claim 39, wherein the image generation source is an image readout apparatus or a host computer for reading an original image.

50. A computer-readable storage medium which stores a program to cause an image processing apparatus to process a job that includes a series of image data input from an image generation source and outputs the processed data to an image formation apparatus which can selectively perform one of a plurality of operation modes for the job, the program comprising code to execute:

a storage step of storing image data to be synthesized to the image data input from the image generation source, in a storage area;

a selection step of selecting image data from the image data stored in the storage area;

a synthesis output step of performing a synthesis process for the image data selected in said selection step and the image data input from the image generation source, and outputting the data subjected to the synthesis process to the image formation apparatus; and

a control step of performing controlling to set a selection method in said selection step to be different for each of the plurality of operation modes included in the image formation apparatus.

51. A computer-readable storage medium according to claim 50, wherein said program causes the image processing apparatus to further execute a display step of displaying information concerning the image data stored in the storage area,

wherein in said selection step the image data is selected from the image data stored in the storage area, on the basis of the information displayed in said display step, and

wherein in said control step the displayed contents in said display step are set to be different for each of the plurality of operation modes.

52. A computer-readable storage medium according to claim 50, wherein in said control step the number of image data selectable in said selection step is determined for each of the plurality of operation modes.

53. A computer-readable storage medium according to claim 52, wherein the plurality of operation modes includes a first operation mode to form an image on one face of a sheet, a second operation mode to form images on two faces of the sheet, and a third operation mode to form images on plain sheets and non-plain sheets and to mix the image-formed plain and non-plain sheets with others, on the basis of the image data input from the image generation source, and

wherein in said control step controlling is performed such that the number of image data selectable in said selection step is set to be one when the first operation mode is set in said setting step, the number of image data selectable in said selection step is set to be two when the second operation mode is set, and the number of image data selectable in said selection step is set to be the number obtained by adding one to the number corresponding to the number of non-plain sheets to be mixed with the plain sheets when the third operation mode is set.

54. A computer-readable storage medium which stores a program to cause an image processing apparatus to process a job that includes a series of image data input from an image generation source and outputs the processed image data to an image formation apparatus for forming an image on a sheet on the basis of the image data and an operation mode, the program comprising code to execute:

a storage step of storing image data to be synthesized to the image data input from the image generation source, in a storage area;

a selection step of selecting image data from the image data stored in the storage area; and

a synthesis output step of performing a synthesis process for the image data selected in said selection step and the image data input from the image generation source, and outputting the data subjected to the synthesis process to the image formation apparatus,

wherein, in a case where the operation mode of the image formation apparatus is a mode to form images on plain sheets and non-plain sheets and to mix the image-formed plain and non-plain sheets with others, the maximum number of image data selectable in said selection step is set to be the number obtained by adding one to the number corresponding to the number of non-plain sheets to be mixed with the plain.

55. A computer-readable storage medium according to claim 54, wherein the non-plain sheets are cover sheets, and the cover sheets include a front cover sheet and a back cover sheet.

56. A computer-readable storage medium according to claim 54, wherein the non-plain sheet is an interleaf to be inserted between the successive plain sheets.

57. A computer-readable storage medium which stores a program to cause an image processing apparatus to process a job that includes a series of image data input from an image generation source and outputs the processed image data to an image formation apparatus for forming an image on a sheet on the basis of the image data and an operation mode, the program comprising code to execute:

a setting step of setting the operation mode of the image formation apparatus;

a storage step of storing image data to be synthesized to image data input from the image generation source, in a storage area;

a selection step of selecting image data from the image data stored in the storage area; and

a synthesis output step of performing a synthesis process for the image data selected in said selection step and the image data input from the image generation source, and outputting the data subjected to the synthesis process to the image formation apparatus,

wherein, in a case where the operation mode set in said setting step is a mode to form images on two faces of a sheet, it is possible in said selection step to independently select the image data to be formed on a first face of the sheet and the image data to be formed on a second face of the sheet, and

in a case where the operation mode is a mode to form images on plain sheets and non-plain sheets and to mix the image-formed plain and non-plain sheets with others, it is possible in said selection step to independently select the image data to be formed on the plain sheet and the image data to be formed on the non-plain sheet.