A method and apparatus for generating an image of a seal impression. Irradiation of a face of a seal with N beams of light striking the face in succession from N respective different directions respectively corresponding to N different angles of incidence of the light on the face is caused, the face having a character thereon, N≧2. N still images of the face corresponding respectively to the N beams are acquired, each still image structured as pixels including a RGB color combination. The N still images are combined to generate a composite image of pixels that includes a common area of pixels that commonly appears on the face of the seal in all still images, the common area having a luminance value exceeding a specified luminance threshold, the common area including a character area pertaining to where the engraved character is located on the face of the seal.