Abstract: A system and method for use in a computer system is provided to read and write graphical images by an application program by using a format independent interface with an image format specific modules to process application commands to read or write graphical images, allowing the application to read and write graphical image data in various file formats.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for efficient image handling. The invention includes an image server with which image files are registered. The image processing requests are sent to the image server to produce image data representing the processed image file. In one embodiment of the invention, a document processing application obtains an image file for printing. The application registers the image with the image server. The image server returns an identifier identifying the image file which is used for subsequent image processing requests. The application initiates a print job, sending the image identifier and selected print parameters to a printer driver. In response, the printer driver negotiates image processing requests with the image server to modify the image file in accordance with the selected print parameters. Finally, the processed image data is retrieved from the image server and sent to the printer.