Abstract: A manuscript picture is inputted at a picture input unit (10) as a set of pixels having a density value. On the plate, cells corresponding to inputted respective pixels are engraved by a stylus (32). The stylus is vibrated by a drive device (33) and is scanned on the plate by a scanning mechanism (31). Functions (A, B, C, D) for converting density values for respective pixels to cell width values indicating sizes of cells to be engraved are prepared. Thus, cell width values corresponding to density values provided at the picture input unit are generated. The stylus engraves cells corresponding to cell width values generated. The manuscript picture is dealt separately every a plurality of picture areas (A0, A1, A2). Conversions using different functions are applied to pixels within different picture areas. To the picture area of character/solid tone, new unique functions (B, D) are applied in order that a more distinct pictorial image is provided.