Patent ID: 7999828

Claim:
An image processing apparatus comprising: a preview creating unit that creates a preview image indicating a result of processing an image based on a first setting item specified for the image; a display unit that displays the preview image; a determining unit that determines whether a second setting item that is newly selected on the preview image is mutually exclusive with the first setting item that has already been selected on the preview image based on first combination information, the first combination information indicating which combinations of first setting items and second setting items are incompatible with each other, the determining unit that determines a priority of the first setting item and the second setting item if the second setting item is determined as mutually exclusive with the first setting item based on second combination information, the second combination information indicating which one of the first setting item and the second setting item is given priority for combinations that are indicated as incompatible in the first combination information; a display control unit that displays on the display unit, when the second setting item is determined as mutually exclusive with the first setting item, an area corresponding to the setting item not given priority differently from other areas; and a notifying unit that notifies, when the area is selected, why the setting item not given priority cannot be set.