PURPOSE: To prevent a picture from being redisplayed when the hard copy is outputted with an optional output range and an optional enlargement rate, picture by picture.

CONSTITUTION: A display controller 20 for pictures has a memory 22 for hard copy output different from a memory 34-1 for picture display inside. When a system is generated, source data for picture display are converted into object data for picture display and registered, and the output range and enlargement rate of the hard copy set in the source data for picture display are registered. When a picture is displayed on a display device 35 at an operator's request, the registered object data for picture display and the output range and enlargement rate of the hard copy are stored in the memory 34-1 for picture display and picture display data are converted by using the output range and enlargement rate of the hard copy and outputted from the memory 34-1 for picture display to the memory 22 for hard copy output.