Patent ID: 8610905

Claim:
An image formation system, comprising: one or more processors; and one or more storage devices having stored therein: an initial setting file containing image formation configuration information for image formation; and a lock setting file, containing information identifying a lock setting of an image formation configuration setting in the initial setting file; and instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the following to occur: acquire release of the lock setting for a first image to be formed; acquire and authenticate a password, and after authenticating the password, create a lock release file in the one or more storage devices, the lock release file including information identifying which lock setting has been changed, and identifying a replacement setting for the image formation configuration setting identified in the lock setting file; form the first image on a printing sheet in accordance with the initial setting file and the information included in the lock release file; and delete the lock release file, and revert to using the lock setting file's settings for a subsequent image formation.