Image processing apparatus and image processing method capable of referring to setting information when executing external application

An image processing apparatus and an image processing method referring to setting information in executing an external application are provided to enable an external control program to refer to the setting information by a user even when the image processing apparatus is controlled by the external control program, thereby maintaining user's setting. An image processing apparatus(100) comprises a receiving unit(110), an image processing unit(120), a storage unit(150), and a control unit(160). The receiving unit receives an image signal from the outside. The image processing unit performs image processing for the image signal. The storage unit stores the setting information about the image processing. The control unit controls the image processing unit to perform the image processing for the image signal, controls the image processing unit to perform the image processing referring to the setting information according to an external control program in executing the external control program included in the image signal.