A printing device includes a display and a controller. The controller performs a counting process to increment a cumulative value of a printing count each time printing is performed by the printing device. The controller performs a first display control process to display on the display the cumulative value of the printing count which is incremented in the counting process. The controller performs a display mode modification process to modify a display mode for the cumulative value of the printing count displayed on the display when a printing agreement is established for a subscription. The printing agreement is for charging fees depending on a printing count within a specific interval.

Systems and methods of using the system for obtaining an image of a user and survey data from the user are disclosed. The system comprises a processor, a digital imaging device in communication with the processor, at least one input device in communication with the processor, at least one output device in communication with the processor, and software executing on the processor. The software prompts the user to enter an answer to at least one survey question through the input device, directs the digital imaging device to obtain at least one image of the user upon receiving the answer and outputs the at least one image to the output device.

In the present invention, layout processing is performed for, based on first post-processing, print data relating to printout matter and print data relating to a work instruction sheet to be used in work in a post stage, and a printer is instructed to print the print data of the printout matter and the work instruction sheet for which the layout processing has been performed. At this time, in the layout processing, the print data of the printout matter and the work instruction sheet is laid out so that the printout matter and the work instruction sheet after the first post-processing are output in a piled state as the results of performing the first post-processing for the printout matter and the work instruction sheet printed by the printer.

Systems, apparatuses, and methods may provide for technology to control the printing of halftoning screen signatures for various levels of prints. For example, such prints may include regular edition prints or limited edition prints. During printing, a first halftoning screen is associated with one or more of the regular edition prints and a second halftoning screen is associated with the limited edition print, in some implementations. The second halftoning screen has a spatial frequency that is substantially the same as the first halftoning screen while having a spatial signature different from the first halftoning screen. Additionally, the second halftoning screen further may have spectral properties that are substantially the same as the first halftoning screen. During printing, two different printed copies of an image are formed using the first halftoning screen and the second halftoning screen.

The present invention is a configuration module for a Retail Photo System. The configuration module is a memory module that provides system configuration information for use with a network connected Retail Photo System. Physical and digital controlled access to the configuration module is provided by a locking enclosure, password protected access, and an automatic scenario based activation means. Access to the configuration module is limited to authorized personnel and remote access, or via scenario based activation.

Provided are an image processing method and an image processing device which can generate second print image data for recording an optimum image based on information from an image of a first print, and a printing method and a print output system which output a second print in which the optimum image is recorded.

An image processing method includes an acquisition step of acquiring first print image data from a first print having first and second regions, a determination step of determining image processing to be applied, based on information acquired from at least one region, and a generation step of generating second print image data for outputting a second print having a third region corresponding to the first region by performing the image processing on the first print image data.

A printing control apparatus is provided. The printing control apparatus includes a storage unit which stores at least one image, a profile generation unit which generates a profile to perform quick printing with respect to the stored image, a link forming unit which searches for at least one image forming apparatus in the vicinity of the printing control apparatus in a wireless communication manner, and forms a wireless communication link with the searched image forming apparatus, a communication interface which transmits the generated profile to the image forming apparatus with which the link is formed, and a controller which controls the communication interface to transmit an image which is requested to be transmitted by the image forming apparatus with which the link is formed in response to the transmitted profile.