Virtual printing network with printer selection means

Abstract

A system for networked printing of images onto textiles where the entity placing an order for printing has no control over the machines carrying out printing, comprises an electronic network and textile printing machines, belonging to different providers, attached to the network. Each of the printing machines has a corresponding printing quality profile of parameters that indicate abilities of the printer to reproduce an image on a textile. An input enables a user to place an order for textile printing of an image and select or define a required printing quality profile. The parameters of the image itself may demand certain printing quality levels. The textile printing order is sent for printing to a textile printing machine on the network that is selected for a printing quality profile which best matches the profile required. Other parameters such as cost, delivery time may also be considered.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.