Image processing apparatus, image processing method, program, and recording medium

An image processing apparatus, comprising:

• a processor configured to,
• acquire a plurality of images from a plurality of users,
• acquire comments, which are given to each of the plurality of images by the plurality of users, from the plurality of users,
• extract two or more images including one or more first images that are images to which the comments are given, among the plurality of images, as compositing target images,
• arrange the compositing target images according to a first layout to create a composite image,
• determine whether or not a first region where the comments given to the first images are to be combined is present around the compositing target images in the composite image of the first layout,
• in a case where the first region is not present around the compositing target images, change the first layout to a second layout, in which the compositing target images and the comments given to the first images are combined,
• in the case where the first region is not present around the compositing target images, arrange the compositing target images in the second layout and combine the compositing target images and the comments given to the first images to recreate the composite image, and
• in a case where the first region is present around the compositing target images, combine the compositing target images and the comments given to the first images in the first layout.