To perform proper printing by acquiring, via a network, the data of contents for printing which are stored in a distributing device.

A printer 20 reads access information an paper attribute information, etc., from a memory provided to roll paper 30 and transmits them to a host computer 10. The host computer 10 accesses a contents distribution server 40 on the basis of the access information. A user selects a desired image among images stored in the contents distribution server 40. Whether the selected image is printable under the current printing environment is determined on the side of the server 40 or on the side of the host computer 10. When it is printable, its image data are downloaded from the server 40 to the host computer 10 and printed by print setting based on the paper attribute information.