An image forming apparatus to print an image on a recording medium based on print data. The image forming apparatus includes a storing unit to store the print data, an image processing unit to perform image processing on image data included in the print data; a printing operation specification unit to specify implementation of a printing operation; a marking unit to embed marking data in the image data, a marking printing operation specification unit to specify implementation of a marking printing operation, a printing operation implementation unit to implement the printing operation or the marking printing operation, a print data determination unit to determine whether or not the print data includes a setting for the marking printing operation, and a printing operation change unit to change a printing operation performed by the printing operation implementation unit.