Image forming apparatus having real-size preview function, method of controlling the same, and storage medium
An image forming apparatus that enables prevention of a print error of different sizes of characters and graphics from those intended by the user, during execution of printing involving magnification, such as aggregation printing. When performing the image formation, a controller unit determines whether or not a processing instruction instructing execution of predetermined processing on the image data has been given. When it is determined that the predetermined processing instruction has been given, the controller unit displays an image to be formed on the recording sheet in the same size as when printed thereon, as a real-size preview image, before executing the image formation on the recording sheet according to image data on which the predetermined processing has been performed.
1. An image forming apparatus that performs image formation on a recording sheet according to image data, comprising:
a selecting unit configured to select image data to be used for the image formation;
a preview display control unit configured to control displaying an image to be formed on the recording sheet in the same size as when printed thereon, as a real-size preview image, before executing the image formation on the recording sheet according to the image data selected by said selecting unit; and
an operation key control unit configured to control an operation key to be operable or not to be operable, wherein when the operation key has been operated, said preview display control unit is configured to control displaying the real-size preview image;
wherein said operation key control unit is configured to control the operation key to be operable, when predetermined processing has been executed to the image data selected by said selecting unit.
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said preview display control unit includes an enlargement key display unit configured to display an enlargement key for enlarging an image during preview,
wherein when the enlargement key has been operated, said preview display control unit compares a size of the real-size preview image with a size of a preview image having a predetermined size and generated according to the image data, and displays one of the real-size preview image and the preview image according to a result of comparison.
3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said preview display control unit includes a reduction key display unit configured to display a reduction key for reducing an image during preview,
wherein when the reduction key has been operated, said preview display control unit compares a size of the real-size preview image with a size of a preview image having a predetermined size and generated according to the image data, and displays one of the real-size preview image and the preview image according to a result of comparison.
4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a storage unit configured to store image data on which the predetermined processing has been performed, as processed image data, with attribute information added thereto which indicates that the predetermined processing has been performed on the image data, and
wherein if the attribute information has been added to the image data selected by said selecting unit, said operation key control unit is configured to control the operation key to be operable.
5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein said operation key control unit is configured to control the operation key to be operable,
if the image data selected by said selecting unit has the attribute information added thereto even when the predetermined processing has not been executed to the selected image data after being selected by said selecting unit.
6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined processing includes at least one of magnification processing for changing magnification of the image data, aggregation processing for processing the image data such that a plurality of pages are collected into one page, and synthesis processing for synthesizing an image set in advance and the image data.
7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said operation key control unit is configured to control the operation key not to be operable, when the predetermined processing has not been executed to the image data selected by said selecting unit.
8. A method of controlling an image forming apparatus that performs image formation on a recording sheet according to image data, comprising:
selecting image data to be used for the image formation;
displaying, an image to be formed on the recording sheet in the same size as when printed thereon, as a real-size preview image, on a display section, before executing the image formation on the recording sheet according to the selected image data; and
controlling an operation key to be operable or not to be operable, wherein when the operation key has been operated, said real-size preview image is displayed;
wherein the operation key is controlled to be operable, when predetermined processing has been executed to the selected image data.
9. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer-executable program for causing a computer to execute a method of controlling an image forming apparatus that performs image formation on a recording sheet according to image data,
wherein the method comprises:
selecting image data to be used for the image formation;
displaying, an image to be formed on the recording sheet in the same size as when printed thereon, as a real-size preview image, on a display section, before executing the image formation on the recording sheet according to the selected image data; and
controlling an operation key to be operable or not to be operable, wherein when the operation key has been operated, said real-size preview image is displayed;
wherein the operation key is controlled to be operable, when predetermined processing has been executed to the selected image data.