1. An image processing device comprising: a character recognition section for extracting character regions from image data obtained by scanning an original image: wherein the image data includes one or more of the following three types of data: data representing regions that are not comprised of half-tone dots; data representing dots and spaces therebetween that form halftone dot graphic regions; and data representing dots and spaces therebetween that form halftone dot photographic regions; a detector for detecting a characteristic feature in luminance data of the image data from which data representing the character regions have been removed by the character recognition section, and which luminance image data includes the data representing dots and spaces therebetween that form halftone dot graphic regions and the data representing dots and spaces therebetween that form halftone dot photographic regions; and a distinguisher for distinguishing the data representing dots and spaces therebetween that form halftone dot graphic regions from the data representing dots and spaces therebetween that form halftone dot photographic regions based on the characteristic feature.