Abstract

An apparatus for editing picture images and reproducing edited images is disclosed. Positional information, which indicates areas of a film and color plate for which editing operations (including cropping, processing, bordering, flat tone processing, and cutting mask processing) are to be performed, is gathered in process for each color which is included in the color plate. Picture signals are obtained by photoelectrically scanning color original pictures, and the signals are stored and processed; a halftone dot area is created and the ratio data necessary for carrying out the above-described processing is selected and the color plate signals are organized so that the halftone dot area ratio is produced with pre-determined priority order according to the positional information. The editing apparatus thus performs sequentially the process of reproducing original images by recording and arranging the images according to a programmed operator selectable format. Editing operations are performed according to a pre-programmed priority sequence.