Abstract: A two stage image processing apparatus and method wherein, in a first stage, successive groups of image pixels are used to address a RAM based look up table to provide a preliminary breakdown between halftone and textural images. As a second stage, to further enhance the differentiation between halftone and textural images, the output of the RAM address table is employed to generate a count signal. Previous counts stored in a succession of counters are used to determine a new count, a predetermined number of which are summed as a block by an adder in response to the count signal. The is compared with a preset threshold to generate a control signal for operating a pixel generator. The new counts are used to update the counters, the count on the counter serving to represent prior pixel processing conditions.