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: 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 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 thermal printer has a thermal head, which applies recording heat energy to an effective recording region on a thermosensitive recording sheet. The thermal head includes an array of heating elements arranged in a main scan direction. The recording sheet is conveyed relative to the thermal head in a sub scan direction perpendicular to the main scan direction, for recording at least one input image to the recording sheet. The effective recording region is separated into an insertion region, a template region and a blank frame region. The frame region extends in a linear shape with a small width. A first borderline is defined between the insertion region and the frame region, and a second borderline is defined between the template region and the frame region. The first borderline includes at least one first borderline segment being straight or curved, extends crosswise to the sub scan direction and is inclined with reference to the main scan direction. The input image is recorded in the insertion region.

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: When a reprint of a picture which has been printed once and stored as picture image data is requested under a different condition, the reprint can be generated without carrying out rereading of a film. When film reading for generating a print is carried out, as much information showing the content of the picture image is recorded on the film as possible. This includes information which is not necessary for generating the requested print. It is stored as a portion of the picture image data. In this manner, even when a reprint under a condition different from the previous printing is requested, the print can be generated by reading necessary content from the stored picture image data.

Abstract: A blur-free printed image having a high vertical resolution is obtained from a signal obtained by photography using a movie video camera. Video signals of first and second fields are outputted by a CCD every 1/60 of a second. Ordinarily, these video signals are selected by a multiplexer in such a manner that the first and second fields are outputted alternately every 1/60 of a second. At a prescribed point in time, video signals of first and second fields obtained by simultaneous photography are outputted by the multiplexer. In this case a PI signal is added onto the video signals in a circuit for adding on synchronizing signals and the PI signal, and the resulting video signals are then recorded on a video tape. When the video signals are printed, the PI signal is detected and video signals of first and second fields obtained by simultaneous photography are recognized based upon the PI signal. The printed image is obtained from these video signals.