In a user interface apparatus, when a selected position of a to-be-processed image displayed on a display screen is detected through an area detecting unit, a menu display unit displays, in response to the detection of the selected position on the to-be-processed image, a link to at least one setting item being displayed in response to the selected position, the at least one setting item corresponding to a setting available for a setting area which corresponds to the selected position, where an order of display priority of the at least one setting item is determined by a size of the setting area. A determining unit determines that the setting item is specified, and an accepting unit accepts the setting corresponding to the setting item for the to-be-processed image. A preview display unit displays a preview indicating a result of processing the to-be-processed image based on the setting item.