Patent ID: 7268914

Claim:
An image processing apparatus for handling image data, the image processing apparatus comprising: a plurality of memories for storing image data of respective colors; color determining means for determining whether image data stored in the memories should be outputted in a multi-color mode or a monochrome mode; readout signal generating means for generating a plurality of readout signals of respective colors taking a predetermined length of time difference which differs among the respective colors in case a multi-color image is to be outputted, and generating a plurality of readout signals of respective colors simultaneously in case a monochrome image is to be outputted; readout means for reading out image data of respective colors from the memories in accordance with readout signals from the readout signal generating means; and monochrome-image-data forming means for forming monochrome image data in accordance with image data of respective colors read out by the readout means in case a monochrome image is to be outputted.