Patent ID: 8619312

Claim:
An image processing apparatus comprising: a receiving unit that receives job data for a plurality of pages; a plurality of RIP processors that interpret and expand the job data into raster images; and an allocating unit that allocates the job data for the plurality of pages to the plurality of RIP processors for RIP processing, the allocating unit dividing the job data based on a predetermined data size regardless of page breaks, allocating job data that is to be RIP processed to the plurality of RIP processors, and sending job data corresponding to the pages of the job data that are to be RIP processed, to the plurality of RIP processors, wherein if an initial part of the job data that is to be RIP processed as allocated by the allocating unit is in the middle of a page, the plurality of RIP processors RIP processing the job data from the beginning of the next page, and if an end part of the job data that is to be RIP processed and allocated to the RIP processor is in the middle of a page, the RIP processor acquires the job data to the end of the page based on the job data subsequent to the pages of the job data that are to be RIP processed, and RIP processes to the end of the page.