Information indicating an area of an image and information indicating attributes of the image have been stored in an IC chip attached to an original paper. When a copying apparatus performs a character recognition process operation with respect to an image displayed on the original paper, the copying apparatus reads the information related to the area of the image and the information related to the attribute of this area from the IC chip attached to this original paper. Then the copying apparatus separates an area where a character is displayed therefrom. The copying apparatus executes the character recognition process operation with respect to the image of the separated area.