An optical recording system is disclosed in which input pixels are recorded by controlling the quantity of light as a medium based on the input pixels. The information on the pixels surrounding at least given one of the input pixels is compared with predetermined pattern information, and the particular pixel is accordingly subdivided into a plurality of regions for each of which the light quantity is controlled. Specifically, an optical recording system includes a recognition device for recognizing at least one feature of the desired image by comparing pixel information constituting a predetermined pattern with other pixel information making up a recording target and at least a given one of the pixels with surrounding pixels, and a device for determining the light quantity in a predetermined manner in accordance with the feature. The system further includes a light quantity control device including an exposure pattern signal storage having stored therein a set of rules for controlling the light quantity of a given one of the input pixels in accordance with the information on the surrounding pixels.