A CPU 200 extracts ornamental image data and layout control information
from an ornamental image file FF. When the layout control information
does not include characteristic values, the CPU 200 analyzes the
ornamental image data to acquire characteristic values representing a
tendency of image quality of the ornamental image data. The CPU 200 may
additionally compute correction rates for correcting values of image
quality-relating parameters of objective image data from the acquired
characteristic values of the ornamental image data. The CPU 200 writes
either the acquired characteristic values or the computed correction
rates into the layout control information. The layout control information
including the acquired characteristic values or the computed correction
rates is output together with the ornamental image data in the form of
the ornamental image file FF.