A printing control apparatus includes a user interface to display at least one of pre-stored hierarchical printing options if a command to print an XPS file is received, an analysis unit to analyze a hierarchical structure of the XPS file, an applying unit to apply a pre-stored hierarchical printing option selected from among the at least one displayed hierarchical printing options to the hierarchical structure of the XPS file, and a communication interface to transmit the XPS file to which the hierarchical printing option is applied to the image forming apparatus. Therefore, a user can hierarchically set frequently used hierarchical printing options in a convenient manner.