Automated on-line printing service

An on-line print network includes a print merchant computer 100, and a plurality of print service providers 105-107. Within each print service provider orders are satisfied efficiently by optimizing throughput of print jobs within the print service provider, whilst at the same time minimizing media wastage and achieving high printer device utilization, under control of a print manager computer 108-110 interfacing with the print merchant computer 100 on the one hand, and with the plurality of printer devices 111-115 on the other hand.