A light lens scanning system (8) operable in a document scan mode to reproduce documents (30) onto a photosensitive record medium (12) is modified to operate in a document edit mode. A document is placed face-up on a platen surface by the operator and the edit mode is selected. A laser generated light spot output from a raster output scanner (102) is introduced into the optical system and is directed along an optical path which is opposite to the optical path of a projected document image. The light spot output is visible to the operator at the platen (40) as a light cursor. This movement of the cursor is under control of the operator via switches on the control panel (88). The cursor is moved through x and y coordinates (X o Y o ; X o Y₁; X₁Y₁; X₁Y₀) to delineate an area of the document to be selectively erased. Coordinate positions are entered into a microcontroller memory. Following exposure of the entire image at the record medium, control means (89) generate signals in response to the entered coordinate positions and these signals are used to actuate an erase mechanism for a time sufficient to erase the portion of the copy corresponding to the selected portion of the document.