An image evaluation apparatus includes a reading unit that includes a monochrome detection unit reading, in a focused state, an image formed on a recording material by an image forming apparatus that represents grayscale of the image by forming dots on the recording material, and a color detection unit reading the image in a defocused state; an image information obtaining unit that obtains image information for the image forming apparatus to form the image; a computing unit that computes a luminance and a chroma of an image supposed to be formed on the recording material by the image forming apparatus from the obtained image information; a comparing unit that compares a derived luminance with the computed luminance, and compares a derived chroma with the computed chroma; and an image evaluation unit that evaluates the image formed by the image forming apparatus, on the basis of results of comparison.