To improve picture segmenting processing ability by executing a picture emphasizing processing only with respect to pictures obtained by the segmenting, composing magnification and reduction of the picture and the modifying processing of a color tone and gradation.

After the modifying processing of the color tone and gradation and the variable power processing such as the segmenting/composing and magnifying/reducing of the picture, the picture emphasizing processing is executed. A picture emphasizing means 150 consists of a contrast emphasizing device 152 and a picture sharpening device 154. In this case the means 152 can be used as the device 154 to adjust each density value of a high (brightest part) and a shadow (dark part) called set points to emphasize the contrast of the picture to reproduce a more natural picture by printing. In addition, the device 154 can be utilized by a differential filter signal superimposing device 156 and secondary differential data of the picture is prepared by a second filter to superimpose to gradation data of an original picture to obtain a sharper picture.