PURPOSE: To improve the whole throughput by selecting output processing with short computing time out of the output processing for one time based on an instructed output content, and performing the output processing starting from a version with short computing time.

CONSTITUTION: Since the method is comprised of an input controller, a file server, an image setter, and a work station and each of them is equipped with an indelendent CPU, each part can be operated independently and in parallel, and fast and efficient image processing can be performed. Also, the information of an allocation mount and a pattern or character, etc., can be interactively edited integrally, and an image with high quality can be obtained from an image output device as a hard copy by reducing memory capacity as possible. Also, it is possible to reduce the latency time of output by outputting a version C and a version M with short computing time and short idle time of an output machine, and to improve productivity by increasing parallel processing time.