To accurately and quickly read a desired image by designating an image-read range to be wider than a designated image-read range and reading the image of the designated image read range from the read image with the wide range.

First, a read range 41 indicated in one-dot chain lines with a size, position and a form or the like of an image desiring edit is designated from a photograph 40 acquired by a user. A display section displays the read range 41 and calls a control program and gives a read signal of a wide range image 42 shown in two-dot chain lines to send the image in the read range 41 to a line scanner controller. Then the read wide range image 42 is stored in a RAM and displayed on the display section. Whether or not the image of the read range 41 desired by the user is properly arranged is judged by a confirmation key or the like of an input section. When the image is located within the desired range, the image of the read range 41 is segmented from the stored wide range image 42 and stored in the RAM.