The image processing apparatus includes a monitor for displaying an image based on a right viewpoint image and left viewpoint image, or multi-viewpoint images, with the displayed image being used by a user for specifying an indispensable output area.
The image processing apparatus includes a monitor for displaying an image based on a right viewpoint image and left viewpoint image, or multi-viewpoint images, with the displayed image being used by a user for specifying an indispensable output area which the user wants to be included in a 3D image synthesized by merging the right viewpoint image and left viewpoint image, or multi-viewpoint images, together, and outputted; an input device for inputting information on the indispensable output area as specified by the user referring to the image as displayed on the monitor; a control unit for causing the indispensable output area to be indicated in the image as displayed on the monitor; and an output device for outputting the right viewpoint image and left viewpoint image, or multi-viewpoint images, and information on the indispensable output area.