PURPOSE: To provide an image forming device wherein the control of printing timing is simplified, irrespective of the number of slits in a linear scale, the out-of-register of images can be absorbed within a small range and the reliability and the image quality are improved.

CONSTITUTION: In an image forming device having a printing means 1 for forming an image on a recording paper, a retaining means which retains the printing means 1 and is scanned perpendicularly to the moving direction of the recording paper and a control part 2 for controlling the scanning of the printing means 1 and the retaining means, a timer means 4 for generating printing signals (s) at a predetermined frequency, coupled with image signals I to the control part 2, and a means 8 for resetting and restarting the timer means 4 so as to generate the printing signals at a predetermined interval, are provided.