PURPOSE: To make the color of printing ink corresponding to a picture signal for each color free by scanning an original, storing picture signals for each color, and enabling section and changing of a picture signal by the reading device for each color and color of ink.

CONSTITUTION: An original is carried by a feeding roll 4 and scanned in a scanning section 5. In the scanning section 5, reflected light from the original is separated into red, blue and green, and each color is converted into an electric signal and stored in a reading section. Paper P is carried to a taking up drum 13 and each color of ink on the transferring paper 17 is transferred by the action of a thermal head 16 in a transferring section. At this time, combination of colors is changed optionally by selecting and changing the correspondence of a picture signal for each color stored in the reading section abd the color of ink by operation of a controlling section.