PURPOSE: To arrange a type row in a well-balanced state by adjusting the mutual intervals between types.

CONSTITUTION: Front packing quantity Wf1 and rear packing quantity Wr1 showing width before and behind the net image part in an imaginary type frame are operated with respect to each selected type by a type packing quantity operation device. A composing apparatus determines the coordinates of each type on the basis of the calculated values and a type interval. It is unnecessary to preliminarily calculate the front and rear packing quantities Wf1, Wr1 with respect to each type and both quantites are calculated from type image data such as font data showing a type image. As a result, the spaces before and behind the net image part of each type can be equally arranged.