An image processing apparatus which performs variable printing in accordance with print data containing a fixed object and a variable object determines whether the fixed object overlaps another fixed object. When the image processing apparatus determines that the fixed object overlaps the other fixed object, the image processing apparatus generates data by performing the first image forming processing to combine the fixed object and the other fixed object or the second image forming processing to process the fixed object or the other fixed object. The image processing apparatus stores the generated data. The image processing apparatus extracts the stored data, combines it with the variable object to generate print data, and outputs the print data.