Patent ID: 8325358

Claim:
An image forming apparatus which is connected through a network with i) an upper apparatus for creating an input image, and ii) an external terminal for approving printing of the input image, the image forming apparatus performing an image formation on the basis of the input image, comprising: a first storing portion that stores an input image received from the upper apparatus in a specific area; a second storing portion that stores an approval image indicating an approval of print allowance; an approval request portion that sends a request electronic mail to request the external terminal to approve the input image stored in the specific area of the first storing portion via the network, the request electronic mail containing a specific area name identifying the specific area; a judging portion that judges whether the input image is approved to print on the basis of a reply electronic mail from the external terminal with respect to the request electronic mail of the approval request portion the reply electronic mail containing the specific area name and approval result information for the input image; and an image compounding portion that, when the judging portion judges that the input image is approved, forms a compound image obtained by compounding the approval image stored in the second storing portion with the approved input image stored in the specific area.