1. An image processing apparatus for processing input original image data, comprising: an OCR processing portion for performing OCR processing on original image data and performing character recognition of the original image data; a transparent character embedding portion for embedding character data recognized by the OCR processing portion as transparent character data in the original image data; a control portion for controlling a range in which transparent character data is embedded by the transparent character embedding portion; and an output portion for outputting electronic document data comprised of image data in which transparent character data is embedded by the transparent character embedding portion.