An image processing apparatus which generates data for forming a shaped object configured of at least a first layer and a second layer as layers of recording materials on a recording medium, the image processing apparatus includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire data relating to a shape of the first layer and data for expressing a reflection characteristic of the second layer, an estimation unit configured to estimate a reflection characteristic at each predetermined area of the shaped object based on the reflection characteristic data and the shape data, and a generation unit configured to generate at least any one of recording amount data for expressing a recording amount of the recording material and dot arrangement data corresponding to dot arrangement of the recording material on the recording medium in order to form on the recording medium the shaped object having the reflection characteristic estimated by the estimation unit.