An image forming apparatus configured to output print data according to a print setting, the image forming apparatus comprising: a user print setting storage unit that stores therein the print setting made by each of one or more users, as a user print setting; a page setting information acquisition unit that, prior to output the print data, causes a display unit to display a predetermined screen and acquires, with respect to each of one or more pages of the print data, page setting information indicating whether to permit each print setting of duplex printing, monochromization, 2-in-1, and 4-in-1, according to an instruction entered through the screen; a user designation unit that accepts designation of one or more users who are to receive the output of the print data, the designation being inputted through an operation panel; a print setting decision unit that reads from the user print setting storage unit the user print setting of the user accepted by the user designation unit, compares the read user print setting to the page setting information acquired by the page setting information acquisition unit, and decides, with respect to each of the one or more pages, whether the read user print setting is permitted according to the page setting information; a print setting unit that when it is decided by the print setting decision unit that the user print setting is permitted with respect to all the pages of the print data, applies the user print setting to each page of the print data, and that, when it is decided by the print setting decision unit that there is, in the print data, any page with respect to which the user print setting is not permitted, applies the user print setting to the page for which the user print setting is permitted according to the page setting information, and with respect to the page for which the user print setting is not permitted according to the page setting information, applies the user print setting to the print setting for which the user print setting is permitted and modifies the print setting for which the user print setting is not permitted so as to agree with the page setting information; and an image forming unit that outputs the print data for each of the one or more users according to the print setting applied by the print setting unit. a user print setting storage unit that stores therein the print setting made by each of one or more users, as a user print setting; a page setting information acquisition unit that, prior to output the print data, causes a display unit to display a predetermined screen and acquires, with respect to each of one or more pages of the print data, page setting information indicating whether to permit each print setting of duplex printing, monochromization, 2-in-1, and 4-in-1, according to an instruction entered through the screen; a user designation unit that accepts designation of one or more users who are to receive the output of the print data, the designation being inputted through an operation panel; a print setting decision unit that reads from the user print setting storage unit the user print setting of the user accepted by the user designation unit, compares the read user print setting to the page setting information acquired by the page setting information acquisition unit, and decides, with respect to each of the one or more pages, whether the read user print setting is permitted according to the page setting information; a print setting unit that when it is decided by the print setting decision unit that the user print setting is permitted with respect to all the pages of the print data, applies the user print setting to each page of the print data, and that, when it is decided by the print setting decision unit that there is, in the print data, any page with respect to which the user print setting is not permitted, applies the user print setting to the page for which the user print setting is permitted according to the page setting information, and with respect to the page for which the user print setting is not permitted according to the page setting information, applies the user print setting to the print setting for which the user print setting is permitted and modifies the print setting for which the user print setting is not permitted so as to agree with the page setting information; and an image forming unit that outputs the print data for each of the one or more users according to the print setting applied by the print setting unit.