A quantization coefficient is inputted to an inverse quantization circuit. The coefficient is multiplied by a quantization step size stored in a quantization table. Resultant data is delivered to an inverse discrete cosine transformation circuit. The quantization step size is attained by replacing each value of a high-frequency portion of the quantization table with "0" by a masking circuit. As a consequence, each value of inversely quantized data associated with the portion is set to "0". Data inversely transformed according to a transformation expression is fed to a sub-sampling circuit. Based on an n specification signal, the data is sub-sampled such that a dot is extracted for every n dots, thereby generating a compressed image signal. Aliasing noise is prevented by the masking a portion of the quantization table, and the sub-sampling ratio can be varied.