Image forming apparatus capable of minimizing size of blank area, image forming method

摘要

An image forming apparatus includes an image reading portion, a reduction processing portion, a data processing portion, and a print processing portion. The image reading portion reads image data of a print target sheet. The reduction processing portion reduces external shape data included in the image data based on a predetermined ratio. The data processing portion executes a blank forming process to form a blank area in the print target data by using the external shape data that has been reduced by the reduction processing portion, and executes an obfuscation process to obfuscate a border of the print target area. The print processing portion causes the image forming portion to form an image on the print target sheet based on the print target data that has been subjected to the processes executed by the data processing portion.