Patent ID: 8860997

Claim:
An image output apparatus, comprising: a preview image generating unit configured to generate a first preview image of image data to be output based on an output setting for outputting the image data; a preview image storing unit configured to store the first preview image in a storage device; a changing unit configured to change the output setting based on a changing request; and a control unit configured to: send, in response to a first preview request from an operation device, the first preview image to the operation device, receive, after sending the first preview image to the operation device, a changing request to change the output setting to a changed output setting, determine, in response to a second preview request from the operation device that is received after sending the first preview image, whether the first preview image is to be regenerated based on the changed output setting, and send the first preview image stored in the storage device to the operation device when the control unit determines the first preview image is not to be regenerated.