A personal computer has a print image developing means and a data compression means including a fixed rate compression. A color printer has a data extension means, a color correction means, a gamma correction means, a first halftoning means, an image area segmentation means, and a second halftoning means. The transmission time of a print image can be shortened necessarily to less than a constant time, and further, since an enormous memory for extension is unnecessary, a low cost printer can be provided.