Image processing apparatus and method

An image processing method comprising:

• a reading step of reading image data;
• an image area information generating step of producing image area information from the image data;
• a compression step of compressing the image data;
• a step of storing the compressed image data in storing means;
• a step of setting a transmission destination to which the image data is transmitted;
• a decision step of making a decision as to whether the image area information is necessary or not according to the transmission destination that is set;
• and
• a control step of controlling, when the decision step makes a decision that the image area information is not necessary, the compression step in such a manner as to compress the image data at a compression rate lower than a compression rate when a decision is made that the image area information is necessary, wherein the decision step makes a decision that the image area information is not necessary when the transmission destination will never print the image data.

A computer readable medium including a program for causing a computer to execute an image processing method comprising:

• a reading step of reading image data;
• an image area information generating step of producing image area information from the image data;
• a compression step of compressing the image data;
• a step of storing the compressed image data in storing means;
• a step of setting a transmission destination to which the image data is transmitted;
• a decision step of making a decision as to whether the image area information is necessary or not according to the transmission destination that is set;
• and
• a control step of controlling, when the decision step makes a decision that the image area information is not necessary, the compression step in such a manner as to compress the image data at a compression rate lower than a compression rate when a decision is made that the image area information is necessary, wherein the decision step makes a decision that the image area information is not necessary when the transmission destination will never print the image data.