Abstract: An apparatus provides a signal for operating a display device to display combined video and graphics images in plural, selectable scene formats. The apparatus permits selection of a scene format containing an image and has respective sources providing video and graphics image signals. Based upon a selected scene format and the graphics image signal, the apparatus determines when, during display of the scene, an image is to be displayed, and selects from the video and graphics image signals to provide a display signal whose characteristics are based upon the selected image signal. The selectable formats include one displaying a video image alone, one displaying a graphics image superimposed on a video image, one including a graphics image embedded in a predetermined background, and one corresponding to a uniform foreground which curtains an image behind it.