An image processing apparatus includes a background image generation section and a combining section. The background image generation section generates a background image containing new updated trace information that identifies at least one of the image processing apparatus and a user who instructs the image processing apparatus to form an image. The combining section combines the background image generated by the background image generation section with a foreground image to generate a composite image. The combining section outputs the composite image to an image forming section that forms an image on a recording medium. The background image generation section arranges the updated trace information in an end region of the background image.