An image processing apparatus and method for obtaining an image signal to be processed. A classification information obtaining section obtains classification information indicating the image signal as one of a plurality of image signal types. The plurality of image signal types include a first type comprising a plurality of frames extracted from a large still image, the frames being extracted by moving an extracting area in units of an integer pixel per frame over the large still image, extracting the frames corresponding to the extraction area, and outputting an image signal corresponding to the frames. An image signal processing section then performs processing on the image signal based on the classification information.