In an image recognition method, the image of a cream solder 9 printed on a rectangular electrode 16 having a solder leveler formed is picked up and recognized to identify the cream solder 9. An illuminating unit having white light source parts 35W arranged in the radial oblique directions of 45.degree. is used to apply white color illumination lights from a light applying direction in which an angle of .theta.1 formed by the light applying direction and a horizontal plane in a vertical plane is 45.degree. or smaller and from a light applying direction in which an angle of .theta.3 formed by the light applying direction and the boundary of the electrode 16 in a horizontal plane is 75.degree. or smaller. Thus, regularly reflected lights from a solder leveler forming surface 16a with a glossiness are not received by an upper camera to identify a solder surface 9a and the solder leveler forming surface 16a with good accuracy.