1. A color image processing apparatus comprising: memory means for storing combined color image information corresponding to a combined color image comprising a combination of a plurality of separate pictures; sampling means for sampling image data from each of the plurality of separate pictures comprising said combined color image; detection means for detecting the whole color balance of the combined color image stored in said memory means by analyzing the sampled image data from each of the plurality of separate pictures; and control means for controlling the color balance of the combined color image on the basis of the whole color balance detected by said detection means.