The image processing apparatus of the present invention includes: an image data acquisition unit configured to acquire image data; a generation unit configured to generate an ejection pattern of ink droplets from the image data, which are ejected for forming dots from a plurality of nozzles of an image forming apparatus; a characteristic acquisition unit configured to acquire an ejection characteristic of ink droplets of the image forming apparatus; and a pattern change processing unit configured to change the ejection pattern based on the ejection characteristic and the ejection pattern, and the pattern change processing unit repeatedly performs, in a case where a gap occurs between dots that should be formed so as to contact each other by the image forming apparatus, the ejection pattern change until the gap is eliminated.