Patent ID: 8804199

Claim:
An image processing apparatus connected via a network to a plurality of image forming apparatuses that implement a first gradation correction, or a second gradation correction, for instructing the connected plurality of image forming apparatuses to implement gradation corrections, the image processing apparatus comprising: a selection unit configured to select the first gradation correction or the second gradation correction, for each of the connected plurality of image forming apparatuses; an instruction unit configured to send an instruction, to an image forming apparatus connected via the network, for which a first gradation correction has been selected by the selection unit, to form patch patterns on an image carrier of the image forming apparatus, to generate gradation correction data from data of the patch patterns read out by a sensor of the image forming apparatus, and to start gradation correction, and configured to instruct an image forming apparatus connected via the network, for which a second gradation correction has been selected, to print patch patterns on paper; a reading unit arranged in a reading section by a user, configured to read out patch patterns that have been printed by the image forming apparatus connected via the network, for which the second gradation correction has been selected; a transmission unit configured to transmit data for correcting readout values of the patch patterns to the image forming apparatus connected via the network, for which the second gradation correction has been selected; and a survey unit configured to survey output histories of respective image forming apparatuses, to further reduce a number of papers of print output product for gradation correction, in the second gradation correction.