An image processing apparatus is provided, the image processing apparatus including: a limited color conversion processing section that extracts plural pieces of color information constructing image information and converts the plural pieces of color information into color information representing specific colors to which each of the plural pieces of color information belongs; a by-color separation processing section that separates the image information containing the converted color information for each of the specific colors; a compression determination section that determines a compression system for each color as to each of pieces of image information which are separated by the by-color separation processing section for each of the specific colors; a compression processing section that compresses said each of pieces of image information according to the determined compression system for each color; and a layered structure forming processing section that collectively outputs said each of pieces of image information compressed.