Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for reducing the frequency with which memory is accessed in graphic printing or the like. If a CPU 100 reads image data from a buffer block where data has not been written, a memory controller 12 does not read the image data from a image buffer 140, but sends back initializing data stored beforehand. If image data is going to be written for the first time in a buffer block, the memory controller 12 stores and manages this image data, first writes the initializing data in this buffer block, and thereafter writes the image data. If a read request or a write request occurs to a buffer block where data has already been written, the memory controller 12 reads or writes data as requested.