Video printer having a key simplified in operation

A video printer connected between a reproducing apparatus for reproducing picture signals representative of images recorded in a movie fashion on a recording medium and a monitor apparatus for receiving picture signals and displaying images based on the received picture signals, wherein, while the picture signals received from said reproducing apparatus are output to said monitor apparatus, a desired frame of image is printed in the form of a still image, said printer comprising:

• first storage means for storing therein image data of plural frames of picture signals from said reproducing apparatus;
• signal processing means for forming a reduced image from the image data of respective plural frames of picture signals stored in said first storage means;
• second storage means for storing therein picture signals representative of the reduced image formed by said signal processing means;
• a signal fetching button for causing, when actuated, the picture signals to be stored in said first storage means;
• selection and output means for selecting either of the picture signals stored in said storage means and the picture signals reproduced from said reproducing apparatus, and for outputting a selected one of the picture signals to said monitor apparatus;
• and
• control means for controlling an operation mode of said video printer between a first mode in which the picture signals are stored in said first storage means whenever said signal fetching button is actuated, and printing is performed on each image, and a second mode in which a plurality of reduced images are formed in the form of a single field of image in response to an operating of said signal fetching button,
• wherein, in the first mode, when said signal fetching button is actuated to store a field of picture signals in said first storage means, a selection signal is fed to said selection and output means so as to select and output the picture signals stored in said first storage means, while said reproducing apparatus is stopped in a reproducing operation, and in this state, when said signal fetching button is again actuated, a control signal is fed to said reproducing apparatus to resume the reproducing operation, so that the picture signals are stored in said first storage means, and when a field of picture signals is stored in said first storage means, said reproducing apparatus is again stopped in a reproducing operation, and thus said first storage means stores image data of plural frames of picture signals from said reproducing apparatus, and
• wherein, in the second mode, said control means generates, when said signal fetching button is actuated, a control signal to repeatedly instruct said reproducing apparatus to perform reproducing and feed forward operations and upon monitoring reproducing forward operations, and upon monitoring reproducing and feed forward states of said reproducing apparatus, generates timing signals for storing the picture signals in said first storage means, forming the reproduced image in said signal processing means and storing the signals of the reduced image into said second storage means.