1. A tape printing apparatus that prints a print image onto various types of tapes including a tape having a predetermined non-printing area; the apparatus comprising: a keyboard; a tape detecting unit for detecting a type of tape that is loaded in the tape printing apparatus; a basic image storing unit for storing basic image data input by the keyboard; a mask image storing unit for storing mask image data indicating the predetermined non-printing area corresponding to the tape; a printing section that prints basic image data without printing in the predetermined non-printing area if the tape detecting unit detects the tape having the predetermined non-printing area; a display screen for displaying a printable area in addition to the predetermined non-printing area corresponding to the tape; and an editing unit for editing the basic image data so that the basic image data falls within the printable area and not the predetermined non-printing area.