Provided are an image processing apparatus and an image processing method that are able to optimize the arrangement method and arrangement size of a plurality of dot-arrangement patterns for each printing mode and each nozzle array without creating a need to increase memory. In order for this, a dot-arrangement table that stores a plurality of patterns having different dot arrangements for each level of multi-value data, and a small matrix arrangement table that stores information about the arrangement of those patterns are prepared. Desired arrangement information is acquired from the small matrix arrangement table according to the size and reading starting address of arrangement information that was set for each printing mode, and a unique dot-arrangement matrix is generated for each printing mode.