A method and apparatus are disclosed for reducing graphic patterns, coded by binary characters and represented in rows and columns of a prescribed grid, by purely electronic techniques. The reduction occurs by decrement of the binary characters. First, the binary characters representing the rows and, subsequently, the binary characters representing the columns are decremented in accordance with the desired reduction ratio. In the decrement of the binary characters, it is seen that the structure of the graphic patterns is retained to as great an extent as possible.