Abstract: The image for the face candidate region is obtained, extraction conditions are determined for extracting the eye and the mouth pixels from the face candidate region based on the size of the face candidate region. The eye pixels and the mouth pixels are then extracted from the face candidate region based on the determined extraction conditions, and then the area ratio of the eyes and the area ratio of mouth are calculated for the face candidate region based on the eye pixels and the mouth pixels. Next the area ratio for the eyes and mouth is input into the neural network and a determinations is made as to whether the face candidate region is the face of a person using the neural network.

Abstract: There are described image-processing method and apparatus, which make it possible to reduce the processing load even in the image-processing environment employing the Dyadic Wavelet transform. The apparatus includes a reading section to read an image recorded on a recording medium so as to generate image signals representing the image; a first converting section to apply a multi-resolution conversion processing of at least level 1, which is capable of reducing an image size of the image signals, to the image signals, so as to generate first-converted image signals from the image signals; and a second converting section to apply a Dyadic Wavelet transform of at least level 1 to low frequency band component signals included in the first-converted image signals, so as to generate second-converted image signals from the first-converted image signals. An image size of the first-converted image signals is smaller than that of the image signals.

Abstract: There is described an image-processing apparatus, which makes it possible to compensate for the defect pixel without causing a sense of incongruity in the image. The apparatus includes an image signal acquiring section to acquire the image signals representing an image recorded on a recording medium, a recognizing section to recognize a presence or absence of a defect pixel possibly included in the image signals and a compensating section to compensate for the defect pixel. The compensating section compensates for the defect pixel so that first order differential values of image signals of the defect pixel and those of non-defect pixels adjacent to the defect pixel continue to each other. The compensating section applies a multi-resolution conversion processing to the image signals so as to decompose them into high frequency band components and a low frequency band component, signal intensities of which are compensated for.

Abstract: An image processing method for subjecting captured-image data outputting from an image-capturing device to an optimization processing for appreciation to produce viewing image referred image data. The image processing method has the step of conducting a pre-processing before the optimization processing is carried out, wherein the pre-processing includes the transformation of the frequency characteristic of the captured-image data into the scene-referred frequency characteristic by removing the effect of a frequency characteristic specific to the image-capturing device from the frequency characteristic of the captured-image data.

Abstract: The image for the face candidate region is obtained, extraction conditions are determined for extracting the eye and the mouth pixels from the candidate region based on the size of the face candidate region. The eye pixels and the mouth pixels are then extracted from the face candidate region based on the determined extraction conditions, and then the area ratio of the eyes and the area ratio of mouth are calculated for the face candidate region based on the eye pixels and the mouth pixels. Next the area ratio for the eyes and mouth is input into the neural network and a determinations is made as to whether the face candidate region is the face of a person using the neural network.

Abstract: There are described image-processing method and apparatus, which make it possible to reduce the processing load even in the image-processing environment employing the Dyadic Wavelet transform. The apparatus includes a reading section to read an image recorded on a recording medium so as to generate image signals representing the image; a first converting section to apply a multi-resolution conversion processing of at least level 1, which is capable of reducing an image size of the image signals, to the image signals, so as to generate first-converted image signals from the image signals; and a second converting section to apply a Dyadic Wavelet transform of at least level 1 to low frequency band component signals included in the first-converted image signals, so as to generate second-converted image signals from the first-converted image signals. An image size of the first-converted image signals is smaller than that of the image signals.

Abstract: An image processing method to conduct an image processing on image signals indicating an image obtained through photographing by a photographing apparatus for generating image signals for output. The image processing method has a determining process to determine a content of image processing to be conducted on the image signals based on information about environment light in the course of photographing, information about flashlight in the course of photographing, and on at least one of information about zoom magnification in the course of photographing and information about ISO speed.

Abstract: An image processing method of producing visual image-referred data, comprising a large region and detail signal producing step of producing large region signals and detail signals by processing inputted-image data; a storing step of storing at least the large region signals and the detail signals in a memory medium; and an image processing step of obtaining the large region signals and the detail signals from the memory medium and producing visual image-referred data by applying an image processing process for the obtained large region and detail signals in order to optimize an visual image formation on an output medium.

Abstract: There is described an image-processing method for extracting a main photographed subject from an image, which might be set in various ways in the image corresponding to various kinds of photographic conditions, and further, for making it possible to provide advanced image processing services in a simple manner by employing the results of the extracting operations. The image-processing method includes the steps of: acquiring input image information from an image by means of one of various kinds of image inputting devices; setting a subject pattern including one or more constituent elements from the input image information; applying a multi-resolution conversion processing to the input image information; detecting the constituent elements by employing a decomposed image of a suitable resolution level determined with respect to each of the constituent elements; and extracting the subject pattern from the input image information, based on the constituent elements detected in the detecting step.

Abstract: An image processing method, comprising steps of: obtaining input image information including input image data from an input device; discriminating plural subjects existing in the input image data; dividing the input image data into plural subject patterns corresponding to the discriminated plural subjects; obtaining a relationship among the plural subject patterns; determining a processing method for the input image data of the plural subject patterns on a basis of the relationship, and processing the input image data of the plural subject patterns in accordance with the processing method so as to obtain image data.

Abstract: There is described an image-processing apparatus, which makes it possible to compensate for the defect pixel without causing a sense of incongruity in the image. The apparatus includes an image signal acquiring section to acquire the image signals representing an image recorded on a recording medium, a recognizing section to recognize a presence or absence of a defect pixel possibly included in the image signals and a compensating section to compensate for the defect pixel. The compensating section compensates for the defect pixel so that first order differential values of image signals of the defect pixel and those of non-defect pixels adjacent to the defect pixel continue to each other. The compensating section applies a multi-resolution conversion processing to the image signals so as to decompose them into high frequency band components and a low frequency band component, signal intensities of which are compensated for.

Abstract: There is described an image-processing apparatus, which makes it possible to clearly and accurately recognize the image defect caused by the defect of the recording medium. The apparatus processes image signals acquired by scanning an image, recorded on a recording medium, with an image reading light. The apparatus includes a defect-detecting signal generating section to scan the image with a defect detecting light, so as to generate defect detecting signals, which can be employed for detecting a defect of the image; a converting section to apply a multiple-resolution conversion processing to the defect detecting signals, generated by the defect-detecting signal generating section, so as to decompose the defect detecting signals into multiple-resolution signal components; and a recognizing section to recognize a presence or absence of the defect in the image, based on the multiple-resolution signal components decomposed by the converting section.

Abstract: An image processing method to conduct an image processing on image signals indicating a photographed image for generating image signals for output, having the steps of: detecting an area in the photographed image where the mixed ratio of flashlight to environment light in the course of photographing is greater than a prescribed value, based on respective information including information about environment light in the course of photographing, information about flashlight in the course of photographing, and at least one of information about zoom magnification in the course of photographing, information about ISO speed and information about a subject distance in the course of photographing; and determining a content of image processing in accordance with a ratio of the area detected to the total area of the photographed image.

Abstract: There is described a method for providing processed image data to a client, who requests an image-processing service from an image-processing service provider. The processed image data are generated by processing an original image submitted by the client as an object of the image-processing service. The method includes the steps of acquiring original image data, which include expanded color-range image data, from the original image; determining a first optimizing condition for generating output-referred image data from device characteristic data in respect to the output device, in order to generate optimizing condition data; storing the original image data including the expanded color-range image data and the optimizing condition data, while correlating them; and providing the original image data including the expanded color-range image data and the first optimizing condition data, stored in the storing step, to the client, based on a providing procedure established in advance.

Abstract: There is described an image-capturing apparatus such as a digital camera, an image processing apparatus in which an optimization processing is applied to the digital image data obtained by the image-capturing apparatus to form an output-referred image on the outputting medium, and an image recording apparatus.

Abstract: An image processing method for subjecting captured-image data outputting from an image-capturing device to an optimization processing for appreciation to produce viewing image referred image data. The image processing method has the step of conducting a pre-processing before the optimization processing is carried out, wherein the pre-processing includes the transformation of the frequency characteristic of the captured-image data into the scene-referred frequency characteristic by removing the effect of a frequency characteristic specific to the image-capturing device from the frequency characteristic of the captured-image data.

Abstract: There is described an image processing method of applying optimization processing, for forming an output-referred image on an outputting medium, to the digital image data outputted from an image-capturing apparatus. The method includes the steps of: converting a color space, provided for the image data, to a scene-referred color space by excluding color characteristics, being inherent to the image-capturing apparatus, from the color space; converting a gradation, provided for the image data, to a scene-referred gradation by excluding gradation characteristics, being inherent to the image-capturing apparatus, from the gradation, based on model gradation characteristic information representing the gradation characteristics inherent to the image-capturing apparatus; and optimizing processed image data, provided with the scene-referred color space and the scene-referred gradation so as to generate output-referred image data, which are optimized for reproducing an image on a specific outputting medium.

Abstract: An image forming method having a step of: applying an image processing for forming an optimum viewing image on an output medium to captured-image data outputted from an image-capturing device; wherein the step of the image processing includes: a scene-referred image data generation process for generating scene-referred image data on the basis of the captured-image data; and a viewing image referred image data generation process for generating viewing image referred image data on the basis of the generated scene-referred image data; wherein, the image processing includes a smoothing processing and a sharpening processing.

Abstract: A method of applying an image processing onto two dimensionally-arranged image data representing a captured image including a main captured-subject and producing image signals to reproduce the captured image visually with one of various reproduction sizes on one of various kinds of recording media, comprises steps of determining a reproduction size of the captured image to be reproduced visually on a recording medium; determining a size of the main captured-subject on the determined reproduction size of the captured image; determining a content of the image processing on the basis of the determined reproduction size of the captured image and the determined size of the main captured-subject; and applying the image processing with the determined content onto the two dimensionally-arranged image data and producing image signals to reproduce the captured image visually with the determined reproduction size on the recording medium.

Abstract: An image forming method for forming visual image referred image data by subjecting captured image data to predetermined image processing of optimization. The method has the steps of: identifying a type of the image-capturing device; generating a scene-referred image data by subjecting the image data, obtained by photographing a subject having a reflection density of 0.7, to normalizing processing so that the reflection density on the output medium becomes 0.6 through 0.8; optimizing conditions of the predetermined image processing using the scene-referred image data; storing the optimized image processing conditions for each type of the image-capturing device; subjecting the image data to gradation compensation processing, which ensures that the average value of the image data is outputted to have the reflection density of 0.6 through 0.8 and &ggr; values of the leg and the shoulder are smaller than that of the middle portion.