Image processing and method, and storage medium

An image processing method comprising:

• a generation step of generating image data;
• a discrimination step of discriminating whether or not an externally connected equipment related to the image data generated in the generation step has a function of adding predetermined additional information to be hardly discernible by the human eye;
• an adding step of adding the predetermined additional information to the image data generated in the generation step to be hardly discernible by the human eye in accordance with a discrimination result in the discrimination step;
• and
• an output step of outputting the image data to which the predetermined additional information is added in the adding step or the image data generated in the generation step.

A storage medium which computer-readably stores an image processing program, said image processing program comprising:

• a generation step of generating image data;
• a discrimination step of discriminating whether or not an externally connected equipment related to the image data generated in the generation step has a function of adding predetermined additional information to be hardly discernible by the human eye;
• an adding step of adding the predetermined additional information to the image data generated in the generation step to be hardly discernible by the human eye in accordance with a discrimination result in the discrimination step;
• and
• an output step of outputting the image data to which the predetermined additional information is added in the adding step or the image data generated in the generation step.

An image processing apparatus comprising:

• generation means for generating image data;
• discrimination means for discriminating whether or not an externally connected equipment related to the image data generated by said generation means adds predetermined additional information to be hardly discernible by the human eye;
• adding means for adding the predetermined additional information to the image data generated by said generation means to be hardly discernible by the human eye in accordance with a discrimination result of said discrimination means;
• and
• output means for outputting the image data to which the predetermined additional information is added by said adding means or the image data generated by said generation means.

An image processing method comprising:

• a generation step of generating image data;
• a discrimination step of discriminating whether or not an externally connected equipment related to the image data generated in the generation step adds predetermined additional information to be hardly discernible by the human eye;
• an adding step of adding the predetermined additional information to the image data generated in the generation step to be hardly discernible by the human eye in accordance with a discrimination result in the discrimination step;
• and
• an output step of outputting the image data to which the predetermined additional information is added in the adding step or the image data generated in the generation step.

A storage medium which computer-readably stores an image processing program, said image processing program comprising:

• a generation step of generating image data;
• a discrimination step of discriminating whether or not an externally connected equipment related to the image data generated in the generation step adds predetermined additional information to be hardly discernible by the human eye;
• an adding step of adding the predetermined additional information to the image data generated in the generation step to be hardly discernible by the human eye in accordance with a discrimination result in the discrimination step;
• and
• an output step of outputting the image data to which the predetermined additional information is added in the adding step or the image data generated in the generation step.