Image processing system and image processing method in which specific information including information concerning the own apparatus is added to image data after each processing by each component/step thereof

An image processing system in which an image processing apparatus processing image data and an external apparatus having an application are communicatively connected through a network, and the image processing apparatus and the external apparatus process and output image data in accordance with the application, wherein:

• the image processing apparatus and the external apparatus each respectively comprise an addition section adding specific information, wherein the specific information is trace information including operational history and identification information of own apparatus, to image data when processing the image data in accordance with the application, wherein:
• the addition section of the image processing apparatus writes specific information in header information of image data when processing/transmitting image data to the external apparatus, creates a specific image in accordance with the specific information and combines the specific image with image data when processing/transmitting image data to the external apparatus to process/print the image data, and creates a specific image in accordance with specific information and combines the specific image with image data when processing/printing image data transmitted from the external apparatus, and wherein:
• the addition section of the external apparatus writes specific information in header information of image data when processing/transmitting image data to the image processing apparatus or another external apparatus, and creates a specific image in accordance with the specific information and combines the specific image with the image to be transmitted when processing/transmitting image data to be printed by the external apparatus to the image processing apparatus.