In an image generating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, the reference image selecting unit selects an image as a reference image. The image extracting unit extracts at least one related image related to the reference image. The image generating unit generates a new composite image by using the reference image and the at least one related image according to a layout including a definition of at least one kind of information selected from a group including a background image, the number of images to be used, a size of each image to be used, and positional relation among images to be used. The basic control unit issues an instruction to make the reference image selecting unit select an image being displayed as the reference image and make the image generating unit generate the new composite image based on the reference image.