An image data dissemination system and method for anticipating user image requests from a user workstation and for locating, transforming and, as necessary, migrating anticipated representations of image data files to a local storage area for efficient access. An anticipated image request is determined based on a number of factors including the image retrieval historical information associated with a user and/or the user workstation. An anticipated representation of the image data file is also determined. An image data file that satisfies the anticipated image request and is in the anticipated representation is then identified, copied and stored in an optimal local storage area. When a user workstation generates the anticipated image request, the corresponding image data file stored on the optimal local storage area is provided the user workstation.