Image processing apparatus with partition image processing function

An image processing apparatus, comprising:

• an image processing device comprising:
• a receiving port, which is connected to a peripheral device and receives old image data corresponding to a document image of a document;
• a processor, which is connected to the receiving port, divides the old image data into first area image data corresponding to a first area image of the document, and second area image data corresponding to a second area image of the document while keeping the second area image data separated from the first area image data, and keeping a corresponding relationship between the second area image data and the first area image data, and performs image enhancement processing on only the first area image data separated from the second area image data to obtain enhanced first area image data representative of an image clearer than the first area image without affecting the second area image data before the enhanced first area image data is combined with the second area image data;
• and an output port, which is connected to the peripheral device or a second peripheral device and outputs the second area image data, the enhanced first area image data and the corresponding relationship,
• wherein the second area image data is outputted from the output port before the enhanced first area image data is outputted from the output port, and the image enhancement processing starts in a period of outputting the second area image data from the output port.