In an image forming apparatus which is connected to a network (30), and forms an image on the basis of data acquired from the network, upon receiving a URL that designates image data to be acquired from a console, the URL is interpreted, and a data request is submitted to a server via the network on the basis of the interpretation result. Image data sent from the server in response to that data request is stored. If the image data is a JPEG image, an image process that warrants excellent tone reproduction is made; if the image data is a GIF image, an image process that warrants high resolution is made, and the processed image data is output to a printer to print it out.