An image forming apparatus comprising: a printer configured to form an image on a sheet, wherein the image forming apparatus comprises: a storage unit configured to store image data and a reading mode that is a parameter when reading an image; a scanner configured to read an image formed on a sheet and generate image data; and a control unit configured to combine a reading direction image that indicates a reading direction in the scanner and is a pattern shape based on the reading mode with the image data generated by the scanner, and record combined image data in the storage unit, wherein the reading mode is selected from one of a character reading mode, a photograph reading mode and a character and photograph reading mode, wherein: the control unit is configured to determine a position where the reading direction image is disposed and a size of the reading direction image based on reading resolution indicating resolution of reading processing in the scanner and recorded resolution indicating resolution of the image data recorded in the storage unit, even when a magnification-varied image is formed on the sheet by performing magnification-varying on an image, the control unit is configured to combine the reading direction image with the image data without changing at least a size of the reading direction image, the storage unit is further configured to store an image forming mode, which is a parameter when forming the image, and the control unit is configured to combine an image forming direction image that indicates an image forming direction in the printer and is a pattern shape based on the image forming mode with the image data wherein the image forming mode is selected from one of a character forming mode, a photograph forming mode, a character and photograph forming mode and a grayscale mode. a storage unit configured to store image data and a reading mode that is a parameter when reading an image; a scanner configured to read an image formed on a sheet and generate image data; and a control unit configured to combine a reading direction image that indicates a reading direction in the scanner and is a pattern shape based on the reading mode with the image data generated by the scanner, and record combined image data in the storage unit, wherein the reading mode is selected from one of a character reading mode, a photograph reading mode and a character and photograph reading mode, the control unit is configured to determine a position where the reading direction image is disposed and a size of the reading direction image based on reading resolution indicating resolution of reading processing in the scanner and recorded resolution indicating resolution of the image data recorded in the storage unit, even when a magnification-varied image is formed on the sheet by performing magnification-varying on an image, the control unit is configured to combine the reading direction image with the image data without changing at least a size of the reading direction image, the storage unit is further configured to store an image forming mode, which is a parameter when forming the image, and the control unit is configured to combine an image forming direction image that indicates an image forming direction in the printer and is a pattern shape based on the image forming mode with the image data wherein the image forming mode is selected from one of a character forming mode, a photograph forming mode, a character and photograph forming mode and a grayscale mode. <EOS>