Image processing apparatus and image processing method

An image processing apparatus comprising:

• an obtaining unit configured to obtain image data obtained by reading a print original that includes a first region and a second region, the first region read in the reading to have a higher density than the second region, the second region read in the reading to have a lower density than the first region, the print original being an original in which information is embedded in a print image by embedding a pattern with a directivity in the first region and a pattern in which the number of pixels printed adjacent to printed pixels is smaller than the number of pixels printed adjacent to printed pixels in the first region is embedded in the second region;
• and
• an extracting unit configured to extract the information from the first region.

An image processing method comprising:

• an obtaining step of obtaining image data obtained by reading a print original that includes a first region and a second region, the first region read in the reading to have a higher density than the second region, the second region read in the reading to have a lower density than the first region, the print original being an original in which information is embedded in a print image by embedding a pattern with a directivity in the first region and a pattern in which the number of pixels printed adjacent to printed pixels is smaller than the number of pixels printed adjacent to printed pixels in the first region is embedded in the second region;
• and
• an extracting step of extracting the information from the first region.