PURPOSE: To permit reproduction of the gradation in the part of an original image where the density is high by setting the max. value of the level of a recording signal at the levels corresponding to the max. densities of the respective color materials to be recorded by said signal or below when a monocolor mode is set.

CONSTITUTION: This recorder is provided with a level regulating means which changes over the correspondence of the level of the input signal and the levels of the signals to the impressed to the respective color recording means according to whether a recording mode is a full color mode or monocolor mode, impresses the recording signal for at least one color to the recording means according to the input signal and sets the max. value of the levels of the respective recording signals to the levels corresponding to the max. densities of the respective color materials to be recorded by said signals or below when the monocolor mode is set. Namely the signal levels are so regulated that the solid recording density falls to the max. level of the input signal or below according to the characteristics of the color materials to be used in the moncolor mode. Impression of the signals in excess of the level corresponding to the solid recording density to the respective recording system is thereby obviated and, therefore, the gradation faithful to the gradation of the original is reproduced on a copy even if any color materials are used.