Patent ID: 8208178

Claim:
An image forming apparatus comprising: an input unit which inputs document image data; a processing unit which processes the document image data from the input unit; a print unit which prints an image corresponding to the document image data processed by the processing unit; and a memory unit which holds a ground pattern image file which is generated by converting ground pattern image data into a machine dependent format extractable only by the processing unit and is registered from outside, wherein the processing unit is configured to extract the ground pattern image data from the ground pattern image file in a case where document image data of a ground pattern print object is input from the input unit, and embeds the ground pattern image data into the document image data, and wherein the processing unit is configured to output machine-specific information to be incorporated in the ground pattern image file to the outside for obtaining the machine dependent format, upon activation of the ground pattern print function, and to confirm the machine-specific information incorporated in the ground pattern image file before extraction of the ground pattern image data from the ground pattern image file is performed in the case where the document image data of the ground pattern print object is input from the input unit.