A handheld device (100) is capable of communicating wirelessly with a ticket issuer (200) through a network (300) or by using a short-range link such as Bluetooth, IrDA, or the like. A ticket is purchased using a payment system (400). A user selects an image from a data store (120) and transmits it to the ticket issuer (200) along with data associated with the requested ticket. This data may comprise identification data of the user and/or the device (100), data concerning a requested validity of the ticket, data concerning the payment method and/or an optional reservation number. The ticket issuer (200) receives the request then transmits to the user a template, which the user then fills in before transmitting payment data, the completed template and the selected image from the user device (100) to the ticket issuer (200), as one or more SMS and/or MMS messages. If the data is verified as satisfactory, the ticket is then created by the ticket issuer (200) and visible and/or invisible watermarks are embedded into the image. The processed picture/image and the template are combined with additional data to generate a valid image digital ticket for the ticket user, which is then sent to the user or to an address or device which the user has given.