Abstract: An image recording apparatus with circuitry for formatting image signals to a print head. The circuitry includes an integrated circuit memory chip having sufficient buffer memory sites for storing either a full line of image signals to be printed or image signals sufficient for filling more than one shift register assemblage associated with the recording element driver. Rasterized image signals are fed to the memory chip in consecutive sequential order. A print head includes a plurality of recording elements such as LED's arranged in a line configuration. The driver actuates the recording elements for recording on a line by line basis. Intermediate registers output the image signals in parallel to each of the shift register assemblages. Image signals are read from the memory chip to the intermediate register in a non-consecutive sequential order.