Negotiation between first and second devices having a bi-directional communication link, so as to negotiate a low-cost image processing sequence that effects a transfer of image data from a first device to the second device. According to the negotiation, the devices determine whether functionality present in one device can be executed more efficiently in the other device, so as to increase image transfer efficiency and maintain good image quality. If functionality present in one device is more efficiently executed in the other device so as to achieve an overall increase in efficiency in the transfer of image data, then the functionality is transferred over the bi-directional communication link and the transfer of image data proceeds by incorporating the transferred functionality.