Patent ID: 7384205

Claim:
An image processing method comprising the steps of: setting information on a combination of print materials used when outputting an input image on a sheet, based on page setting information of the input image; and selectively changing the information set in said setting step, said changing step including the sub-steps of: determining whether to change the information set in said setting step, based on different page setting information from the page setting information; and changing the information set in said setting step when it is determined in said determining sub-step to change the information, and not changing the information set in said setting step when it is determined in said determining sub-step not to change the information, wherein there are a combination of a larger number of print materials and a combination of a smaller number of print materials as combinations of print materials usable for outputting the input image on the sheet, and wherein, in the case that the information on the combination of print materials used when outputting the input image on the sheet is the combination of the larger number of print materials, and the page setting information of the input image includes page setting information indicating that the input image of a page layout, having a greater number of page units than a predetermined number that is equal to or greater than 1, is outputted on one page of the sheet, it is determined in said determining sub-step to change the combination used when outputting the input image on the sheet into the combination of the smaller number of print materials.