CHARACTER SEGMENTING METHOD

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To cut character patterns by the character out of an image including a character string. SOLUTION: In a final step ST17, character patterns are cut by the character out of the input image by using cutting position candidates which are set so far, but a projection of the character string in the input image is found in an initial step ST11 and the middle point between positions where the projection distribution is zero is set as a cutting position candidate for cutting a character pattern in a step ST12. In a step ST14, a place where character patterns are put on over the other is detected and when the place is detected, the most recessed part of the pattern at the place is set as a new cutting position candidate in a step ST15. The cutting position candidate set in the step ST15 is a position where the character patterns which are put one over the other are suitably divided.