Method and system for printing a multi-media document from an image file

1. A method for printing a multi-media document using a printing device, the method comprising:

the printing device receiving a data holding image file, the data holding image file including image data to be printed on the multi-media document and document data stored as metadata in the data holding image file;

a processor of the printing device parsing and extracting the document data stored as the metadata from the data holding image file for printing the multi-media document;

sending the image data to a first printer operation component of the printing device in order to print the image data onto the multi-media document;

sending a portion of the document data to a second printer operation component of the printing device in order to perform a printing operation on the multi-media document;

the first printer operation component performing a first printing operation of printing the image data on the multi-media document; and

the second printer operation component performing a second printing operation on the multi-media document using the portion of the document data extracted from the data holding image file.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the document data contains personalization data associated with an intended holder of the multi-media document.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

the processor processing the document data to receive instruction data for one or more printing operation components of the printing device; and

sending the instruction data to one or more printer operation components of the printing device.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein parsing and extracting the processed data includes parsing one or more of personalization data, instruction data, and security data.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein parsing the instruction data includes extracting different printer operation instruction data for a plurality of printing operations to be performed on the multi-media document.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein parsing the security data includes authenticating whether the printing device is authorized to access the document data using a key reference stored as part of the security data.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the printing device is one of a central card issuance system and a desktop card printer.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the printing device is a smart device, and

wherein printing the multi-media document using the document data extracted from the data holding image file includes rendering an image of the multi-media document for display on the smart device as the multi-media document would appear when physically printed.

9. A printing device comprising:

a network input/output that receives a data holding image file including image data to be printed on a multi-media document and document data stored as metadata in the data holding image file; and

a processor that parses and extracts the document data stored as the metadata from the data holding image file;

a plurality of printer operation components, wherein one or more of the printer operation components performs a printing operation onto the multi-media document using document data extracted from the data holding image file,

wherein the processor sends the image data to a first printer operation component of the printing device in order to print the image data onto the multi-media document and sends a portion of the document data to a second printer operation component of the printing device in order to perform a printing operation on the multi-media document, and

wherein a first printer operation component of the plurality of printer operation components performs a first printing operation of printing the image data on the multi-media document, and a second printer operation component performs a second printing operation on the multi-media document using the portion of the document data extracted from the data holding image file.

10. The printing device of claim 9 , wherein the data holding image file contains personalization data associated with an intended holder of the multi-media document.

11. The printing device of claim 9 ,

wherein the processor processes the document data to receive instruction data for one or more of a plurality of printing operation components, and sends the instruction data to the one or more of the plurality of printing operation components.

12. The printing device of claim 11 , wherein the processor processes the document data to receive the instruction data, personalization data, and security data.

13. The printing device of claim 12 , wherein the processor extracts different printer operation instruction data for a plurality of printing operations to be performed on the multi-media document.

14. The printing device of claim 12 , wherein the processor authenticates whether the printing device is authorized to access the document data using a key reference stored as part of the security data.

15. A method for preparing a data holding image file for use in printing a multi-media document using a printing device, the method comprising:

receiving document data for performing one or more printing operations onto the multi-media document;

receiving an image file to be printed on the multimedia document;

storing the document data as metadata into the image file to form a data holding image file;

digitally signing the document data in the data holding image file; and

sending the data holding image file to the printing device.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising processing the document data for storage into the image file as metadata.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the data holding image file is stored in a standard image format.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the printing device is one of a central card issuance system and a desktop card printer.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the printing device is a smart device, and the method further comprising rendering an image of the multi-media document for display on the smart device as the multi-media document would appear when physically printed using the document data stored in the data holding image file.