An image recording apparatus of the invention has a number of recording units for recording image data of the same or different colors on one or more recording media; a counter to set the number of copies to be produced; and a switch device which selects the recording units to be used in a current recording operation according to the number of copies to be produced and statuses of the respective recording units. A number of copies can be produced simultaneously by the recording units within a period of time shorter than a period of time required for sequentially recording the same number of copies. Dichromatic or polychromatic recording may be freely selected or combined with monochromatic recording by selecting feed paths and an auxiliary path for guiding the recording paper sheet.