A system and method for processing digital templates having one or both of a pre-filled image and text field. Optional image and/or text fields are provided for filling in by the customer using customer-selected data. As the customer adds text and images to the template, a data file is created having an indication of the template style selected as well as the optional data fields filled in by the customer including one or more of the location, orientation, size and font thereof. The data file is transmitted to a photofinisher which has access to a high resolution copy of the template, which is populated by the data in the data file to create the finished template print. Since only the data file is transmitted to the photofinisher, the file size is kept to a relative minimum and is thus relatively quick and easy to transmit to the photofinisher.