PURPOSE: To set a low noise mode without decreasing a printing speed, by mounting a switch changing over a standard printing mode, a two-pass printing mode and a draft printing mode.

CONSTITUTION: A printing control part 1 detects the state of a switch changing over the printing modes of an operation panel to control a printing system. When the switch is held to a standard mode, usual printing control is performed and, when the switch falls on a two-pass mode side, usual control operation is divided into two printing operations to perform low noise printing operation (the speed of a lateral feed motor 6 is same as the standard mode). When the switch falls on a draft mode side, the pattern of printing data is thinned to control low noise printing operation at the speed of the lateral feed motor 6 same to that in the printing control of the standard mode. That is, since the printing pattern of the draft mode is low in dot density as compared with that of the standard mode, impact sound at the time of printing operation becomes low and low noise printing operation becomes possible.