A printing system including a plurality of different kinds of printers and a printer selecting device. The printer selecting device includes an accepting section for accepting information representative of a desired number of printings input, and selecting section for selecting one of the printers matching with the desired number of printings. Image data to be printed are sent from the printer selecting device to the printer selected. In this configuration, one printer most advantageous in printing cost for the desired number of printings, which is an important factor for the selection of a printer is selected.
One of printers linked with each other by way of a network is selected according to a printing condition for a given printing job. System information on whether the selected printer makes print in a plate printing system or in a non-plate printing system is obtained. The given printing job is output to the selected printer so that the selected printer makes copies by page when the selected printer makes print in a plate printing system.
A system and method are provided for managing printer selection in a network of connected printers. The method comprises: accepting a print job; determining characteristics of the print job; selecting a printer in response to a programmable administrative policy that cross-references user-defined usage criteria to print job characteristics; and, sending the print job to the selected printer. The administrative policy is programmed to be responsive to print job characteristics such as user identity, client identity, the document processing application sourcing the print job, the document format, media, document complexity, color/BW, rendering, content, job scheduling, and printer capabilities such as stapling, duplex printing, or hole punching.
