Patent ID: 8170429

Claim:
A printer comprising: an accommodating unit that accommodates printing agent for forming an image on a recording medium; a detecting unit that detects a remaining amount of the printing agent in the accommodating unit; an image-forming unit that forms an image on a sheet in one of a non-saving mode and a saving mode, an amount of the printing agent used in the saving mode being less than an amount of the printing agent used in the non-saving mode; a counter that counts the remaining number of sheets on which an image is to be formed by the image-forming unit; a controlling unit; and a memory having machine readable instructions thereon that, when executed by the controller, perform the steps of: stopping forming of the image by the image-forming unit if the number of sheets counted by the counter becomes a predetermined number; calculating an amount of the printing agent required for the image-forming unit to form images in the non-saving mode on the remaining number of sheets counted by the counter; controlling the image-forming unit to form images on sheets in the non-saving mode if the remaining amount detected by the detecting unit is larger than the calculated amount; and controlling the image-forming unit to form images on sheets in the saving mode if the remaining amount detected by the detecting unit is less than the calculated amount.