Image data sets are filed efficiently in an image storing server. An image generation apparatus reads images from a film, and image data sets representing the images are sent to and registered with the image storing server. The image data sets are stored in a folder generated for each user. The user accesses the image storing server from a communication terminal and carries out filing on the image data sets in the folder, such as sorting according to the date and time of photography. In this manner, the image data sets can be stored in the image storing server in a well-organized manner.

A printing control system has a contents provider and a printout service provider connected via a network. The contents provider comprises a device for generating viewing screens, a device for generating a conditions settings screen from printout information and service information obtained from a printout service provider, a device for generating a confirmation screen for setting the conditions, and a device for transmitting the contents selected with the viewing screen, and the printout service provider comprises a device for transmitting the service information, and a device for generating printing data from the contents provided from the contents provider. This provides contents providers with contents providing means other than downloading data, and users with services for various printing forms other than home-use printers.

A printing control system has a contents provider and a printout service provider connected via a network. The contents provider comprises a device for generating viewing screens, a device for generating a conditions settings screen from printout information and service information obtained from a printout service provider, a device for generating a confirmation screen for setting the conditions, and a device for transmitting the contents selected with the viewing screen, and the printout service provider comprises a device for transmitting the service information, and a device for generating printing data from the contents provided from the contents provider. This provides contents providers with contents providing means other than downloading data, and users with services for various printing forms other than home-use printers.

The object of the present invention is to provide a method for providing a print which is designated by a viewer, and whose print charge is paid by a registrant. Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for providing a print. The method makes it possible for a digital contents purchaser to easily obtain a label or jacket suitable to the digital contents. Moreover, another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for each method described above. According to one aspect of the present invention, a method for providing a print of a digital image registered by a registrant in response to an order from a viewer comprises steps described below. A first step is a step of receiving the digital image from the registrant. A second step is a step of registering the received digital image. A third step is a step of showing the registered digital image to a viewer. A fourth step is a step of accepting the order for the print of the digital image from the viewer. A fifth step is a step of producing the ordered print of the digital image. A sixth step is a step of billing the print charge to the registrant.

A method is provided for managing graphics files associated with a presentation. The method comprises the steps of storing a first graphics file corresponding to an image in a first graphics resolution in a database, generating a second graphics file in a second graphics resolution from the first graphics file, storing the second graphics file in the database, indexing the second graphics file to the first graphics file, receiving a presentation type for the image, determining an optimum graphics resolution for the image based on the presentation type, and selecting a graphics file from the database for use in the presentation based on the optimum graphics resolution.