Ten representative images are extracted from an image database storing
images of a number of frames. The extracted representative images are
displayed in a coordinate area, along the coordinate axes of which the
image characteristics of the images are plotted, in a form in which the
images are distributed in accordance with the image characteristics
possessed by the extracted representative images. An image having
characteristics resembling those of a required image is designated from
among the representative images displayed. Images of ten frames having
characteristics resembling those of the designated image are again
displayed in distributed form in a coordinate area having image
characteristics plotted along the coordinate axes thereof. The coordinate
axes of the coordinate area displayed the second time are made more
detailed than those of the coordinate area displayed the first time. As a
result, images having slightly different characteristics are displayed in
separated form, thereby making it easier to find the required image.