Abstract: A printing system for printing a color image provided via the Internet, includes: a terminal unit, connected to the Internet, operable to obtain the color image; a printer, connected to the terminal unit, operable to print the color image; and a correcting information provider operable to provide the terminal unit with correcting information for allowing the color image to be corrected in accordance with at least color characteristics of the printer, wherein the printer prints the color image by using the correcting information.

Abstract: Pictures recorded by a digital camera can be stored and utilized by a method convenient and appropriate for the situation. The system comprises variety of means for transferring picture image data recorded by a variety of digital cameras to an image server installed in a DPE or the like and a variety of accessing means for enabling the picture image data stored in the image server to be accessed.

Abstract: Even an individual not accustomed to operating a computer can obtain, with comparative ease, a modified image that is the result of modifying an image obtained by an image sensing operation. The user is photographed by a video camera and an image representing the user is displayed in a main display area of a display unit. A modification target area is set in the main display area in advance, and icons representing methods of modification are displayed in an auxiliary display area. One of these icons is specified and the image within the modification target area is modified by the modification method specified by the icon. If necessary, the user moves in such a manner that the portion of his or her image that the user wishes to be modified will fall within the modification target area.

Abstract: A plurality of picture image data obtained from a film in one film handling operation by a film scanner with the automatic film feeding function are output as prints by a digital printer and also as files in a recording medium by a file outputting device. In the system for providing the above two kinds of output services, the numbers of film scanners, file outputting devices, and digital printers are determined so that the processing performance of each kind of apparatus in a unit time times the number of each kind of apparatus is almost the same, to make each kind of apparatus comprising the system demonstrate its full performance.

Abstract: A Web page involving a small quantity of data is generated automatically by a content management server even though use is made of materials such as images involving a large quantity of data. Data representing an original image containing a large quantity of data is stored in a database of a content management server. The content management server generates a thumbnail image of the original image and creates a Web page utilizing the thumbnail image. A Web page containing the thumbnail image can be generated in the content management server even though it is not created by the user of the client computer. A file representing the generated Web page is stored on the hard disk of a Web page server. The Web page containing the thumbnail image can be viewed by accessing the Web page server.

Abstract: An image printing apparatus comprises a digital medium reading device reading digital image data recorded on a digital medium, an image printer printing an image represented by the digital image data read by the digital medium reading device, and a charging information printer printing charging information necessary for print service charge, said charging information relating to image print processing executed in the image printer. The charging information printer issues an slip carrying thereon the charging information. The customer is correctly charged for the service performed by the image printing apparatus on the basis of the charging information appearing on the slip.

Abstract: An individual not accustomed to operating a computer can obtain, with comparative ease, a modified image that is the result of modifying an image obtained by an image sensing operation. A subject is photographed by a video camera, and an image representing the subject is displayed in a main display area of a display unit. A modification target area is set in the main display area in advance, and icons representing methods of modification are displayed in an auxiliary display area. When one of these icons is selected, the image within the modification target area is modified by the selected modification method. If necessary, the user may move so that the portion of the subject image that the user wishes to be modified will fall within the modification target area.

Abstract: Pictures recorded by a digital camera can be stored and utilized by a method convenient and appropriate for the situation. The system includes a variety of devices for transferring picture image data recorded by a variety of digital cameras to an image server installed in a DPE or the like. It further includes a variety of accessing devices for enabling the picture image data stored in the image server to be accessed. As such, a user of a digital camera can transfer images, via this system while the user is away from home, thereby enabling continual use of the digital camera.

Abstract: When a print of a picture image is ordered by generating print ordering information comprising electronic data in a predetermined standard to be processed by a predetermined photo finishing system, the print ordering information is generated by considering the content of the services that a service provider or a laboratory where the order is placed can provide so that the service will be provided with certainty. Picture image data obtained by reading a developed film are recorded in a recording medium together with printing service information regarding printing services. In print ordering information generation processing on the image data, the printing service information and the image data recorded in the recording medium are displayed on an order screen and print ordering information for requesting a printing service regarding the image data is generated by using the displayed printing service information.

Abstract: A desired template image is selected, and a subject image is synthesized in a predetermined position of the selected template image. Template image data, mask image data corresponding to the template image data, and image information are previously stored in an image synthesizer. When a user selects a desired template image, mask image data representing a mask image corresponding to the selected template image and synthesis information are obtained. A subject image which a user has is synthesized in a predetermined position on the template image using the template image data, the mask image data and the synthesis information, and is displayed and printed.

Abstract: A plurality of picture image data obtained from a film in one film handling operation by a film scanner with the automatic film feeding function are output as prints by a digital printer and also as files in a recording medium by a file outputting device. In the system for providing the above two kinds of output services, the numbers of film scanners, file outputting devices, and digital printers are determined so that the processing performance of each kind of apparatus in a unit time times the number of each kind of apparatus is almost the same, to make each kind of apparatus comprising the system demonstrate its full performance.

Abstract: A contents distribution apparatus for distributing distribution data, which is converted by a method according to the difference of addressee terminal, is provided. A distribution apparatus 90 for distributing digital contents to an addressee terminal, which includes a contents storage unit 20 for storing digital contents, a data receiving unit 70 for receiving the type of an addressee terminal from a different requester than an addressee which requests to distribute digital contents, a converting unit 40 for converting digital contents into distribution data based on the type, and a distribution unit for connecting to an addressee terminal in a condition that the converting unit 40 has completed converting to distribution data and for distributing the distribution data to an addressee terminal.

Abstract: In the form of print ordering wherein photograph image data are recorded in a recording medium and brought in to a photographic service provider, a customer can specify on a personal computer a variety of printing conditions for a photographic printer installed in the photographic service provider. A printer driver for the photographic printer of the photographic service provider is installed in a personal computer of a customer. The printer driver receives an input specifying the variety of printing conditions by displaying a printing condition setting screen on a monitor of the personal computer via image processing application software. The image processing application software converts resolution upon necessity in response to the printing conditions, transfers the image data after the conversion and an image of a print paper, both of which are then displayed on a finish confirmation screen by the printer driver.

Abstract: In an arrangement in which an image captured by photography is recorded on new-type photographic film having an information recording zone for magnetically recording information relating to the film or frames on the film, information concerning the aspect ratio of the image is exploited in an effective manner and the aspect ratio is capable of being altered at will. The image recorded on the new-type photographic film and the aspect ratio information in the information recording zone are read by a film scanner. Original digital image data obtained by the reading operation, length X and width Y of the image and effective image size data (length A and width B) generated from the aspect ratio information are recorded on a floppy disk or optical disk by a disk device. When an original image represented by the original digital image data obtained from the floppy or optical disk is displayed, the size thereof is made that stipulated by the effective image size.

Abstract: Images of film that has been developed are captured by image sensing. The original digital image data is converted to reduced digital image data. The reduced digital image data is stored on a user's disk, and the original digital image data is stored on a laboratory recording medium together with an identification code identifying the roll of film. The identification code is applied to the film and to the user's disk on which the reduced digital image data has been stored. The original digital image data is read out of the laboratory recording medium and photographs of the images represented by this data are printed. The identification code disk and a program (hypertext) is stored on the user's disk. Image data, information IX1 per each roll of film and information IX2 per each frame are read from photographic film.

Abstract: An image synthesizer where desired template image is selected, and a subject image is synthesized at a predetermined position on the selected template image. Template image data, mask image data corresponding to the template image data, and image information are pre-stored in an image synthesizer. When a user selects a desired template image by touching the screen of a display, mask image data representing a mask image corresponding to the selected template image and synthesis information are obtained. A subject image which a user has also selected on the screen is then synthesized at a predetermined position on the template image using the template image data, the mask image data and the synthesis information, and a resultant composite image is displayed and printed.

Abstract: Images of film that has been developed are captured by image sensing. The original digital image data is converted to reduced digital image data representing images that are reduced in size and stored on a user's disk, and the original digital image data is stored on a laboratory recording medium together with an identification code identifying the roll of film. The identification code is applied to the film and to the user's disk on which the reduced digital image data has been stored. The original digital image data is read out of the laboratory recording medium and photographs of the images represented by this data are printed. Image data, information IX1 per each roll of film and information IX2 per each frame are read from photographic film having information recording zones, and the image data and information are recorded on a user's disk. A video component and an audio component are also recorded on the user's disk in advance.

Abstract: When a picture print is generated by editing a picture image recorded on a film, the print in accordance with a customer's requirements is generated by simple operations and at a low cost. Low resolution image data of a picture image read from a film are recorded in a recording medium, in addition to software for image editing, and provided to a customer so that the customer can carry out editing operations on the picture using a personal computer or the like. When a print is ordered, editing instruction information generated by recording the operations the customer has carried out for the editing is received from the customer via the recording medium. Based on the editing instruction information, a scanner reads a film in high resolution and a printer outputs a print after automatic editing on the image data.

Abstract: A user takes in digital image data and photographing information added thereto into a personal computer, and instructs, on a printing instruction screen, a printing format such as whether or not the photographing information should be printed and where the photographing information is to be printed. The content of the instruction is added to the digital image data as printing information and transferred to a printer via a recording medium, for example. The printer prints the photographing information on a picture print based on the printing information when the picture print is generated.

Abstract: When the picture image data stored in a removable medium or a hard disc are printed or output as a file according to an order placed by a customer, output processing is carried out efficiently by an operator regardless of his/her experience. A task in which a unit of output processing is carried out is assigned to each printing material or to each kind of medium, and received order information is stored with images to be processed. Units of processing are grouped in terms of the kind of task. The image data grouped in different groups are stored in different buffers, and the image data in the same buffer are output collectively when corresponding to the same printing material or to a recording medium from each buffer, to thereby reduce the number of changes of printing materials or recording media.