PURPOSE: To provide the picture reader from which data able to distinguish an original area from an outer side of the original correctly independently of the thickness of an original.

CONSTITUTION: A slit section 5 being an opening for density detection of an original platen cover 2 is provided to an end of an original platen 1 orthogonal to the moving direction of a scanning read section B being a read means, the opening/closing of the original platen cover 2 is implemented orthogonal in the moving direction and has a stiffness freely and flexibly bent in the read moving direction but not easily being in the read moving direction and the density of the original platen cover 2 is detected through the slit section 5 at the start of scanning by the scanning read section B.