An image recording apparatus wherein image information is developed by converting the image information into an optical signal and by writing the image information on a drum-shaped image retainer with the converted optical signal to provide latent images and by developing the latent images, which are then recorded. A first writing timing is set in a first writing direction with respect to the image retainer and a second writing timing is set in a second writing direction with respect to the image retainer and the number of rotations with respect to the image retainer is calculated in accordance with the settings of the writing timings. The image information is overwritten by a number of times corresponding to the number of rotations to provide a plurality of images which may be entirely or partially or not superposed on one another.