The present invention relates to a technology for extracting a target area from within an image by a combination of a plurality of image processes, enabling an automatic setting of an image process procedure without an operator inputting the image process procedure. Thus, according to the present invention, the content of an image process to be carried out in the next and subsequent rounds is automatically determined based on a history of results of image processes that have been applied to a process object image up to the immediately preceding round.
