Method of using a portable system for capturing images

A method of digitizing an image, comprising the steps of:

• a service provider transporting a portable imaging system from a first location to a second location;
• the service provider receiving the image to be digitized from a user at the second location;
• the service provider scanning the image at the second location using the portable imaging system to produce a digital image;
• the service provider receiving an order request associated with the digital image from the user;
• and
• the service provider providing the digital image to a fulfiller for fulfillment of the order request by transporting the portable imaging system to the fulfiller.

A method of digitizing an image, comprising the steps of sequentially:

• transporting a portable imaging system from a first location to a second location;
• accessing the image to be digitized at the second location;
• scanning the image at the second location using the portable imaging system to produce a digital image;
• storing the digital image in memory disposed in the portable imaging system;
• generating an order request associated with the stored digital image;
• and
• transporting the portable imaging system to the first location for fulfillment of the order request.

A method of producing a print from a visual image, comprising the steps of:

• transporting a portable imaging system to a first location;
• receiving a hard copy document from a user at the first location, said hard copy document containing the visual image;
• scanning the hard copy document at the first location using the portable imaging system to produce a digital image;
• transporting the portable imaging system to a second location remote from the first location;
• providing the digital image to a fulfiller for generation of the print from the digital image at a third location remote from the first location;
• and
• providing the print to the user.

A method of digitizing an image provided by a user, and producing an image product from the digitized image, in which at least a portion of a fee associated with producing the digitized image is paid to a service provider by a fulfiller, comprising the steps of:

• the service provider transporting a portable imaging system to a first location, the portable imaging device being of a size small enough for the service provider to carry the portable imaging device by hand;
• the service provider scanning the image at the first location using the portable imaging device to produce the digitized image;
• the service provider transmitting the digitized image to the fulfiller located at a second location remote from the first location;
• and
• the fulfiller producing the image product and providing a credit to the service provider for some of the fee associated with producing the digitized image using the portable imaging device.

A method of producing an image product from an image wherein at least a portion of a fee associated with producing the image product is paid to a service provider by a sponsor, comprising the steps of:

• the service provider transporting a portable imaging system from a first location to a predetermined location, the portable imaging device being of a size small enough for the service provider to carry the portable imaging device by hand;
• the service provider receiving the image from a user at the predetermined location;
• the service provider producing a digital image of the image using the portable imaging device at the predetermined location;
• the service provider providing the digital image to a fulfiller for production of the image product;
• the fulfiller producing the image product, and not being the sponsor;
• and
• the service provider receiving a credit from the sponsor for some of the fee associated with producing the image product by the service provider agreeing to use the portable imaging device.

A method of producing an image product from an image, comprising the steps of:

• transporting a portable imaging system from a first location to a second location;
• receiving a hard copy document from a user at the second location, said hard copy document containing the visual image;
• using the portable imaging system at the second location to scan the hard copy document to produce a digital image;
• transporting the portable imaging system to a third location remote from the second location;
• transmitting the digital image from the portable imaging system to a image producing device disposed at the third location;
• and
• producing the image product at the third location.

A method of producing an image product from an image, comprising the steps of:

• transporting a portable imaging system from a first location to a second location;
• receiving the image from a user at the second location;
• using the portable imaging system at the second location to scan the image to produce a digital image;
• transporting the portable imaging system to a third location remote from the second location;
• transmitting the digital image from the portable imaging system to a image producing device disposed at the third location;
• and
• producing the image product at the third location, wherein the third location is a retail location, and the step of producing the image product at the third location is accomplished when the retail location is not open for retail operation.

A method of producing a print from a visual image, comprising the steps of:

• transporting a hand-carriable imaging system to a first location;
• receiving a hard copy document from a user at the first location, said hard copy document containing the visual image;
• scanning the hard copy document at the first location using the hand-carriable imaging system to produce a digital image;
• and
• transporting the hand-carriable imaging system to a second location remote from the first location.

A method of digitizing an image, comprising the steps of sequentially:

• transporting a hand-carriable imaging system from a first location to a second location;
• accessing the image to be digitized at the second location;
• scanning the image at the second location using the hand-carriable imaging system to produce a digital image;
• storing the digital image in memory disposed in the hand-carriable imaging system;
• and
• generating an order request associated with the stored digital image.