Method for using customer images in a promotional product

1. A method of offering a customized promotional product to a user, the method comprising the steps of:

accessing a user-supplied digital image at a digital imaging device;

generating two or more modified user images by modifying the at least a portion of the user-supplied digital image to simulate different editing effects; and

displaying at least a portion of the modified user images as the images would appear on the customized promotional product to the user on a display of the digital imaging device.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the modified user images arc displayed as a slide show.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the modified user images are displayed as a ring around the user-supplied digital image.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising presenting at least one modified user image on an image of the customized promotional product.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the customized promotional product is shown against a background scene.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the background scene compliments the user-supplied digital image content, the customized promotional product coloring, or both.

7. The method of claim 4 , wherein the customized promotional product having the modified user image is shown three-dimensionally.

8. The method of claim 4 , wherein the customized promotional product is shown in multiple views selected from a front view, side view and isometric view.

9. The method of claim 4 , wherein the customized promotional product displayed is based on information from a user loyalty or retailer card.

10. The method of claim 4 , wherein the customized promotional product is a t-shirt shown on the image of a person.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

analyzing the image content of the user-supplied digital image; and

presenting products associated with the content of the user-supplied digital image.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

analyzing the image content of the user-supplied digital image; and

presenting at least one modified user image on a content-related product.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the content-related product is shown against a background scene.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the background scene compliments the user-supplied digital image content, the content-related product coloring, or both.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the content-related product displayed is based on information from a user loyalty or retailer card.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the modified user images can be an artistic product rendition of the user-supplied digital image.

17. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a user order; and

transmitting the user order over a communication network for fulfillment.

18. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a user order;

fulfilling the user order; and

sending the fulfilled user order to the place of order or to the user.

19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the digital imaging device is a kiosk or a computer system.

20. A kiosk for offering a customized promotional product to a user, the kiosk including a display, wherein the kiosk:

accesses a user-supplied digital image;

generates two or more modified user images by modifying the at least a portion of the user-supplied digital image to simulate different editing effects; and

displays at least a portion of the modified user images as the images would appear on the customized promotional product to a user on the display.

21. A computer program product for offering a customized promotional product to a user, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon for performing the steps of:

accessing a user-supplied digital image at a digital imaging device;

generating two or more modified user images by modifying the at least a portion of the user-supplied digital image to simulate different editing effects; and

displaying at least a portion of the modified user images as the images would appear on the customized promotional product to a user on a display of the digital imaging device.

22. A kiosk offering a customized promotional product to a user, the kiosk including a display, wherein the kiosk:

accesses a user-supplied digital image;

provides a digital image representative of a promotional product, the promotional product digital image having a predetermined image location adapted to receive at least a portion of the user-supplied digital image;

generates a modified user image by modifying the at least a portion of the user-supplied digital image to simulate an application of the at least a portion of the user-supplied image to the promotional product;

generates a customized digital image representative of the customized promotional product, the customized digital image comprising the promotional product digital image having the modified user image disposed within the predetermined image location; and

displays the customized digital image to a user on the display.

23. A computer program product for offering a customized promotional product to a user, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon for performing the steps of:

accessing a user-supplied digital image at a digital imaging device;

providing a digital image representative of a promotional product, the promotional product digital image having a predetermined image location adapted to receive at least a portion of the user-supplied digital image;

generating a modified user image by modifying the at least a portion of the user-supplied digital image to simulate an application of the at least a portion of the user-supplied image to the promotional product;

generating a customized digital image representative of the customized promotional product, the customized digital image comprising the promotional product digital image having the modified user image disposed within the predetermined image location; and

displaying the customized digital image to a user on a display of the digital imaging device.

24. A kiosk for placing an order for a customized product, the kiosk including a display, wherein the kiosk:

accesses a user-supplied digital image;

provides a digital image representative of a promotional product, the promotional product digital image having a predetermined image location adapted to receive at least a portion of the user-supplied digital image;

generates a modified user image by modifying the at least a portion of the user-supplied digital image to simulate an application of the at least a portion of the user-supplied image to the promotional product;

generates a customized digital image representative of the customized product, the customized digital image comprising the promotional product digital image having the modified user image disposed within the predetermined image location;

displays the customized digital image to a user on the display;

provides a product order menu adapted to receive a product order for the customized product; and

receives the product order for the customized product.

25. A computer program product for offering a customized promotional product to a user, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon for performing the steps of:

accessing a user-supplied digital image at a digital imaging device;

providing a digital image representative of a promotional product, the promotional product digital image having a predetermined image location adapted to receive at least a portion of the user-supplied digital image;

generating a modified user image by modifying the at least a portion of the user-supplied digital image to simulate an application of the at least a portion of the user-supplied image to the promotional product;

generating a customized digital image representative of the customized product, the customized digital image comprising the promotional product digital image having the modified user image disposed within the predetermined image location;

displaying the customized digital image to a user on a display of the digital imaging device;

providing a product order menu adapted to place a product order for the customized product; and

receiving the product order for the customized product.