An image-formation control apparatus is connected to an image forming
apparatus for forming an image on a medium with a plurality of color
materials. The image-formation control apparatus includes a receiving
unit and a first calibration unit. The receiving unit receives an image
formation command, which is to be executed by the image forming
apparatus. The first calibration unit generates a first formation command
to form a first number of color patches for adjusting output
characteristics of the color materials in the image forming apparatus and
outputs the generated first formation command to the image forming
apparatus. The first calibration unit calculates an estimated consumption
amount of each color material used in the image forming apparatus on a
basis of the received image formation command and determines colors of
the color patches formed on a patch sheet on a basis of the estimated
consumption amount.