PURPOSE: To prevent an original picture from being recognized erroneously, by adding marker for discrimination from unmagnification when outputting a picture of specific magnification of the original picture.

CONSTITUTION: A laser beam printer allows the expansion and contraction of an original. In general, when the long side and short side of the original are magnified by (n) and (m) independently, there is the possibility that the original picture is recognized while deformed. For this purpose, when n≠1, information or a marker regarding magnification is added to an output. For example, when n≠ l, or when m≠1, ruled lines are outputted at the upper part of the original. Although n≠1 and m≠1 are allowed for characters, etc., a graph deforms when n≠1 or when m≠1 in general, so erroneous recognition is eliminated.