PURPOSE: To write easily an optional character pattern on picture information, by writing the character pattern, which is generated in accordance with an input code, on picture information stored in a temporary storage circuit.

CONSTITUTION: In case that the character pattern generated by a character pattern generator 29 is written in a page buffer 14, increments of leftmost addresses except starting addresses SAi (i=1W6) in storage areas 31W36 for addresses SAi are calculated successively, and addresses are calculated successively from left most addresses toward the right. Consequently, addresses are designated by addresses calculated in this manner to store the character pattern from the generator 29 into the buffer 14 dot by dot. Thus, for example, a date is added to picture information.