Abstract: A color scanner capable of displaying a plurality of images in parallel comprises a scanning head for scanning a plurality of images for inputting image signals thereof; a first memory for storing image signals of the plurality of images inputted by the scanning head; a color correction circuit for correcting image signals stored in the first memory to set desired conditions for reproduction; an output skipping circuit for reducing the number of image signals corrected by the color correction circuit to a predetermined number so that they can be displayed on a color monitor; a second memory for storing image signals of the plurality of images skipped by the output skipping circuit; and a color monitor for simultaneously displaying on one screen the plurality of images corrected, based on the image signals stored in the second memory.

Abstract: In scanning and recording an original picture and a character document so as to produce a reproduce synthesized from said picture and said document, picture signals and character signals both generated by the scanning are arranged in data formats of the same word length. Each character signal is caused to correspond to plural fine picture elements that are defined by finely dividing one picture element of the original picture so that the characters may be processed with a resolving power higher than that for said picture. The data formats include a discrimination signal by which the picture signals are selected to be output only when the character signals do not exist in processing circuit.

Abstract: A method for compressing picture data, wherein an original picture is scanned photoelectrically to obtain analog picture signals which are converted in an analog-digital converter into picture data to be transmitted or stored in a memory, wherein each of a matrix of picture data having addresses is compared with an adjacent picture data in horizontal, vertical, right upper diagonal and left upper diagonal directions to obtain comparison results, and wherein either each picture data or its adjacent picture data is skipped according to the comparison results when the two picture data have the same value, to obtain compressed data consisting of representative data which cannot be skipped.

Abstract: A method is described for reproducing pictures on a photosensitive material from original pictures depending on the desired layout. A plurality of original pictures are scanned in parallel by means of picture scanning means to obtain rows of picture signals. The picture signals obtained are aligned in series depending on the desired layout, and the picture signals are used to record aligned reproduction pictures on the photosensitive material in the desired layout positions by means of a picture recording means.

Abstract: A method for controlling positions of reproduction pictures on a recording film mounted to a recording cylinder in the direction of the cylinder's axis, for use in a picture reproducing machine, wherein distances of pickup and recording heads away from a scanning start point of each original picture and a recording start point of each reproduction picture are detected on the basis of a standard position through which the recording head is moved at a fixed speed, and wherein the moving speed of the pickup head is controlled according to the distances detected and each reproduction scale so that the scanning start point of the original picture and the recording start point of the reproduction picture may be scanned at substantially the same time by the pickup and the recording heads.