Disclosed is an image processing apparatus including an enhancement amount calculation unit for calculating a density enhancement amount for each edge pixel, which is a pixel in an edge area of an image, an enhancement amount increasing unit for increasing the density enhancement amount for each edge pixel in a manner to reduce variations in the enhancement amounts in the overall edge area, a density increasing unit for increasing the density of each edge pixel in a manner to reduce variations in density in the overall edge area, and an adder for adding the increased density inputted from the density increasing unit and the increased density enhancement amount inputted from the enhancement amount increasing unit, and for outputting the addition result.