PICTURE OUTPUT DEVICE

PURPOSE:To improve the picture quality of image data such as character data or line drawing data and the picture quality of image data such as pattern data. CONSTITUTION:This device is provided with a latch means 207a latching plural picture elements, a 1st picture quality improvement processing means 207b comparing plural picture elements with a comparison pattern and converting binary image data of a noted picture element into multi-value image data when they are coincident and outputting the binary image data as they are when noncoincident, a 2nd picture quality improvement processing means 207d receiving plural picture elements and converting the binary image data of the noted picture element into the multi-value image data through the use of spatial filtering processing and outputting the converted data, an area discrimination means 207e discriminating whether plural picture elements are resident in a character/line drawing area or in a pattern area, and a selection output means 207f outputting selectively the processing result of the 1st picture quality improvement processing means 207b or that of the 2nd picture quality improvement processing means 207d based on the result of the discrimination by the area discrimination means 207e.