To perform N up printing suitably for a document image being fed while mixing the layout direction vertically and horizontally from page to page.

Importance of information carried on the page of a document is generally different from page to page. Each logic page is imparted with an appropriate weighing value and the weights of respective logic pages contained in one physical page are added in the layout direction and then the layout direction having a maximum sum is determined as the layout direction of physical page. An output image, i.e., a physical page, can thereby be formed in the intended layout direction of a user even when a document or a logic page having layout direction mixed vertically and horizontally is processed. N in the term 'N up' indicates the number of logic pages being allotted to one physical page and 2 up and 4 up functions are generally prepared. N up printing improves look-through properties while saving the sheet.