Patent ID: 7912394

Claim:
An image processing apparatus comprising: a charged amount calculation unit for calculating a first charged amount to be charged when a printed image is printed from the image data; a setting unit for setting an upper limit of a charged amount for printing of said image data; a determination unit for determining whether said first charged amount exceeds said upper limit of said charged amount; and an image processing unit configured to analyze and select a target image, said target image corresponding to a portion of the printed image that is less than an entire region of the printed image, said image processing unit further configured to perform image processing on said selected target image with a priority placed on the target image to create a revised printed image such that the target image is processed to a greater extent than a remainder of the printed image and such that a second charged amount to be charged when said revised printed image is printed no longer exceeds said upper limit of said charged amount, when said determination unit determines that said first charged amount exceeds said upper limit of said charged amount.