PURPOSE: To simplify the structure of the above device by a method wherein lustered color image data are decoded by each of image files for respective colors, not by each of pixels, and the decoded data are transferred to page buffers in corresponding colors.

CONSTITUTION: Text data and lustered color image data are optionally inputted into an input buffer 1. A text/image sorting circuit 2 judges whether the inputted data are the text data or the lustered color image data. In the case where the inputted data are the text data, the data are outputted to a control table- holding part 3a and a character generator 3b. In the case where the inputted data are the lustered color image data, the inputted data are sent to a control table-holding part 4a and a monochrome image generator 4b. Control blocks 21 and 22 are stored in the control table-holding part 4a, and a page buffer- selecting circuit 5 selects page buffers in corresponding colors in accordance with color-indicating flags of each of the control blocks 22.