1. An image processing method used in an image processing apparatus which includes processing means for processing an image and a display for displaying an image, the image processing method comprising: specifying an original image to be processed; displaying a display image of the specified original image on the display; dividing the display image displayed on the display into a plurality of movable or transformable areas; selecting one of the divided areas of the display image; specifying image processing to be performed on the selected area of the display image; creating a processed image obtained by subjecting the display image to the specified image processing; replacing the selected area of the display image with the area corresponding to the processed image subjected to the image processing; moving or transforming the selected area; and updating the display image in such a manner that the result of the image processing is displayed in the area according to the movement or transformation of the area and that the image before the image processing is displayed in the remaining area of the display image.