Data for use in specifying an image to be registered and data indicative of processing contents to be executed are listed in list structure and registered in a "reference list to image storage unit" and a "reference list to processing-content storage unit," respectively. The aggregate area thus listed is subordinated to another aggregate area. When image processing and output are performed and produced, an aggregate area is designated and the processing contents are applied to the image registered in the aggregate area. Even a low-order aggregate area is processed in accordance with the listed contents of the high-order aggregate area.

In a method for forming a duplicate image by reading an original image from an original sheet and forming a duplicate image according to the original image, to allow the designation of a number of regions for forming duplicate regional images, from an overall image, with desired color separation or other various attributes to be carried out accurately, promptly and simply by mounting the original sheet only once on a digitizer or the like without regard to the number of processes of forming a duplicate image, a plurality of regions designated on a single original sheet are stored in a storage device such as computer memory, either the designated region stored in the storage device or the region other than the designated region is defined as an effective region, a duplicate image of only the effective region is formed for a first process of forming a duplicate image, only the region other than the effective region for the first process of forming a duplicate image is defined as a new effective region, and a duplicate image only for this new effective region is formed for the second process of forming a duplicate image.

An image processing apparatus which outputs image data by electrically scaling an image in synchronism with a prescribed clock includes a memory with a one-line capacity for storing image data. A write address in the memory is initialized on a page by page basis and is incremented in accordance with a specified magnification ratio and with the position of a specified region, while a read address in the memory is initialized on a page by page basis and is incremented in accordance with the specified. magnification ratio and with the position of a specified region. The incrementing of the read address is started with a delay of one line with respect to the write address, with provisions made to generate an equal number of write addresses and read addresses per line. This makes scaling and translational transformations in the main scanning direction possible while allowing memory write and read operations to be performed simultaneously with a memory capacity of only one line.

An image reading and processing apparatus scans an image-carrying medium along a predetermined path and, during each cycle of line scanning, image data is produced from a line of pixels and is stored into image data memories while data-write and date-read address signals are generated by first and second address generators and are supplied independently of each other to the image data memories. A second address generator is operative to supply data-read address signals to the image data memories at a timing regulated on the basis of a signal indicative of a magnification/reduction ratio at which an image on an image-carrying medium is to be reproduced. An attribute data storage memory has a plurality of memory spaces respectively corresponding to a plurality of scanning areas, each memory space storing attribute data designating the conditions in which the image is to be reproduced. The attribute data storage memory is responsive to an attribute data address signal for outputting the attribute data corresponding to the attribute data address signals, wherein the image data output from the image data memory is processed on the basis of the attribute data output from the attribute data storage memory in all magnification/reduction ratios.