Patent ID: 7423776

Claim:
An image output apparatus that prints out data a visable image based on data in the data file, the apparatus reading out the data in the data file from a portable storage medium in which the data to be printed is stored as the data file, comprising: portable storage medium access means for accessing the portable storage medium to read out the data in the data file to be printed; image discrimination means for discriminating whether the data in the data file to be printed, which is read out by the portable storage medium access means, is color image data or monochrome image data; color/monochrome conversion means for converting color image data into monochrome image data; monochrome image formation means for printing out monochrome image onto a recording medium as the visible image; and print confirmation means for, when the image discrimination means discriminates that the data in the data file to be printed is color image data, allowing a user to confirm whether or not to print out a monochrome image based upon monochrome image data, which is converted from the color image data by the color/monochrome conversion means, by the monochrome image formation means.