Image Reading Apparatus, Image Reading Method, and Recording Medium Therefor, That Improve Quality of Image of Document Obtained by Portable Image Device

An image reading method for reading a document image represented on a document, the image reading method comprising:

• imaging the document image multiple times from mutually differing angles to generate a plurality of data images each representing the document image;
• performing matching on the plurality of data images by matching the plurality of data images, on a per-region basis in each of the plurality of images of the document represented by the plurality of data images, so as to obtain per-region brightnesses for the plurality of data images, and comparing the obtained brightnesses among the plurality of data images to select from among the plurality of data images each data image whose region is comparatively brighter;
• and
• using the data images selected on the per-region basis as comparatively bright to generate a composite data image.

A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium that stores an image reading program for controlling an image reading apparatus for reading a document image represented on a document, the image reading program causing the image reading apparatus to function as:

• an imaging unit that images the document image multiple times from mutually differing angles to generate a plurality of data images each representing the document image;
• an image data analysis unit that performs matching on the plurality of data images by matching the plurality of data images, on a per-region basis in each of the plurality of images of the document represented by the plurality of data images, so as to obtain per-region brightnesses for the plurality of data images, and comparing the obtained brightnesses among the plurality of data images to select from among the plurality of data images each data image whose region is comparatively brighter;
• and
• an image compositing unit that uses the data images selected on the per-region basis as comparatively bright to generate a composite data image.