To facilitate a processing operation by distinguishing between a frame and an image inside the frame by a connection retrieval and separately performing an image processing for the frame and for the image inside the frame based on inputted image processing information.

The outmost part as a boundary of an area specified by a mouse 8 is retrieved by an outmost part retrieving means 11. The retrieval of data on an image to be processed is started by a connection retrieval means 12 from the outmost part retrieved by the means 11, or retrieval start data generated at the last connection retrieval, and area information which is different in every area where the same colors connect each other is imparted to the data on the image to be processed. And also, the retrieval start data for performing the connection retrieval of the following area is generated by a retrieval start data generating means 12a in the middle of the connection retrieval by the means 12. Besides, the image as the processing target is processed by the processing means 13 based on the data on the image to be processed with the area information imparted, and the image processing information stored in a processing information storage part 16 and set in every stored area.