1. An image processing apparatus, comprising: a) generation means for generating search image data, from original image data recorded on a recording medium, as an index for searching for and retrieving the original image data, wherein the search image data is image data of a desired area extracted from the original image data for one picture, and wherein said generation means selectively designates desired areas of various sizes; and b) display means for displaying the search image data, wherein said display means displays a plurality of different search images on a display.