Patent ID: 8582131

Claim:
An image forming apparatus comprising: an input unit receiving image data; an output unit outputting an image formed based on the image data; a storing unit storing the image data input from the input unit; and, an image display control unit, characterized in that the image display control unit includes: a display image generator generating a display image based on the image data stored in the storing unit; a display unit displaying the display image generated by the display image generator; and, a display controller including a function of presenting the display image based on the image data input from the input unit, in a preview representation and an output processing function of implementing an output process by means of the output unit, and the display controller controls a first output scheme in which, when image data has been input through the input unit, the images to be output are displayed in a preview representation on the display unit, and then are output by means of the output unit, and a second output scheme in which, when image data has been input through the input unit, the images to be output are not directly displayed in a preview representation on the display unit, but are directly output by means of the output unit, and wherein the display controller includes a function of displaying an output start command key for instructing a start of image output by means of the image output unit, on the display unit prior to the output of the images based on the first output scheme, and an output process switching function such that, when the start of the output of the images is instructed by the output start command key prior to the output of the image based on the first output scheme, the preview representation is stopped, and the output process is switched to the second output scheme to output the image.