An image processing apparatus includes a separating unit that separates
image data into foreground image data, background image data, and mask
image data; a resolution converting unit that converts the foreground
image data into low-resolution foreground image data; a dividing unit
that divides the low-resolution foreground image data into a plurality of
square blocks composed of a plurality of pixels; an averaging unit that
calculates an average pixel value of the pixels included in each of the
square blocks, and changes pixel values of the pixels in the square
blocks to the average pixel value of that square block thereby obtaining
averaged foreground image data of the square blocks; a compressing unit
that performs a compression process on the averaged foreground image data
of the square blocks thereby obtaining compressed foreground image data
of the square blocks.