A printing apparatus performs printing by scanning a printhead having an array of printing elements in which a plurality of printing elements are arranged in a predetermined direction, over a printing medium according to control information and image data transmitted from a host apparatus. Setting information designating some of the printing elements to be used for printing in the printing elements in the printhead according to a predetermined printing parameter is transmitted as control information from the host apparatus to the printing apparatus. In the printing apparatus, the printing elements to be used are set according to the setting information. Data to be printed by the printing elements used for printing in correspondence with scanning is generated in the host apparatus and transmitted as image data from the host. The printing apparatus performs printing by driving the set printing elements by the setting means according to the image data during scanning. Control relating settings of printing parameters in the printing apparatus is thus simplified to effectively reduce the capacity of a memory and the number of gates of a logic circuit provided in the printing apparatus. The manufacturing cost and the size of the printing apparatus are thereby reduced.