Abstract: A system and method for facilitating the creation of personalized products is disclosed, wherein a user on a user computer can access a host merchant computer via a communication network, such as the Internet. The host merchant computer communicates with a products database containing information on products available for personalization and further contains manufacturing capabilities for the products.

Abstract: A system and method for conveying information about a personalized product are disclosed. A web server processes product personalization information for a vendor. The web server accepts the personalization that a customer has provided and performed on a product. The web server further accepts a submission from the customer for an order for the production of that personalized product. The web server determines the vendors capable of producing the personalized product and may accept either customer selection of a vendor or automatic selection of a vendor to produce the personalized item. The web server can describe the personalized product in a manner consistent with a data specification or a production request format as defined by the vendor.

Abstract: A printing system operates on a computer system to enable creation of a variety of printed products. The printing system takes either a kiosk form or a personal system form. The printing system contains a variety of definitions of products in its storage which may be selected and modified by a user. The user may alter a plurality of aspects of the selected product including the layout of the product, the graphics of the product and different aspects of the textual information to be printed on the product to personalize the product. Upon completion of personalization of the product, the printing system provides the user with a plurality of order and transmission options which allow certain products to be printed locally, and which allows certain products to be printed by a remotely located printing facility. The user may create a print order which is transmitted in one of two manners to the remote printing facility.