Abstract: Printing processing is carried out efficiently when a print order regarding image data is placed through a network. Order information C and thumbnail image data sets TS of image data sets S to be printed are sent from a user terminal 11 to an order reception server 21 in a DPE store 2. A controller 23 judges whether or not a communication line of a network 3 and/or a digital mini-laboratory 22 are heavily loaded, and sends a reception permit Q to the user terminal 11 if a result of the judgment is negative. The user terminal 11 receives the reception permit Q and accesses the order reception server 21 to send the image data sets S thereto. The digital mini-laboratory 22 carries out printing processing on the image data sets S to generate prints P.

Abstract: An image representing people as a subject can be easily distributed to the people. Photography is carried out by using a digital camera 2, and image data S0 representing the subject image are recorded in a digital recording medium M. At this time, subject information H0 such as e-mail addresses representing the subject is sent from a terminal 1 such as a mobile terminal owned by the subject to the digital camera 2. The digital camera 2 relates the subject information H0 to the image data S0 and stores in the digital recording medium M. The image data S0 and the subject information H0 are read from the digital recording medium M, and the image data S0 are distributed to an image server 31, a personal computer 32 and/or the terminal 1, based on the subject information HO.

Abstract: A method and apparatus whereby a processed image of high image quality is obtained at a high speed when image data is subjected to an image process, is provided. Image data read out from a media is subjected to an image input process in a computer and stored temporarily in a buffer. Then, in accordance with the characteristics of the image process to be performed, a several line portion of the image data stored in the buffer is read out and subjected to a magnification process in the X direction; the processed image data is stored temporarily in another buffer, and further subjected to a magnification process in the Y direction. The processed image data is subjected to an image output process according to the characteristics of the printer driver, and after being stored in another buffer, is outputted by a printer.

Abstract: At the time of generating a composite image from a user image and a template, how the user image looks in the template can be confirmed easily by displaying a catalog of templates having the user image therein. A user image S1 and a plurality of templates T1˜T6 are read, and the user image S1 is inserted in an image insertion area of each of the templates. In this manner, a catalog R1 is generated. By displaying the catalog R1 on a monitor, how a combination of the user image S1 and each of the templates T1˜T6 looks can be confirmed easily, without confirming the combination one by one by inserting the image S1 in the respective templates T1˜T6.