Abstract: In the case of color purification, images do not appear unnatural even by an input profile other than a certain particular input profile, no considerable labor is required for creating profiles and no large memory area is required for storing the profiles. A color conversion method includes holding a color space used for color conversion for color data having specific color space characteristics in advance, comparing color space characteristics of the inputted color data with color space characteristics of the color space held in advance, performing color conversion using gradation characteristics of the inputted color data and a color space of the inputted color data when a difference between the color space characteristics is a set threshold level or less, and performing color conversion using the gradation conversion data of the inputted color data and the color space held in advance when the difference is over the set threshold level.

Abstract: The nature of the target image to be corrected is identified in regard to whether it is a still image or a moving image, and where it is a moving image, correction is performed with regard to the entire image, and where it is a still image, the image is divided into multiple sections and correction is carried out with regard to the image in each such section.

Abstract: The gray axis of an input apparatus is shifted so as to match the gray axis of an output apparatus. Each data on a plane of equal lightness located in the Gamut of the input apparatus is shifted in the same direction in accordance with the shift of the gray axis by an amount of shifting smaller in proportion to greater distance from the gray axis. Therefore, the image is not governed by the chromaticness in the shifting direction even if the gray axis is shifted. Points located outside the Gamut of the output apparatus is compressed-converted into points within the Gamut (surface) where color difference is minimized while maintaining the lightness. A desired image is reproduced without inversion in the lightness after Gamut compression between data.

Abstract: In order to create a device link profile by which color conversion can be performed with sufficient accuracy even when brightness characteristic equivalent conversion is included, all conversion parameters including the input device profile, the conversion parameters for color space conversion, and the output device profile are divided into a color conversion parameter component FC2 that indicates the parameters for color conversion, a pre-processing component FC1 positioned before the color conversion parameter component FC2, and a post-processing component FC3 positioned after the color conversion parameter component FC2, and if brightness characteristic conversion XLA1 comprising conversion to match the perceived brightness characteristic is included, such brightness characteristic conversion XLA1 is incorporated in the pre-processing FC1 or post-processing component FC3 such that it is not included in the color conversion parameter component FC2, and the pre-processing component FC1, the color conversion

Abstract: An image processing device automatically generates a frame image around a periphery of a subject image. A color of the frame image is determined by an image processing device based on a feature of the subject image. The feature is related to colors of the subject image. For example, the feature is a color having the largest surface area within the subject image. A similar color to the feature color is determined as the color of frame.

Abstract: In the case of color purification, images do not appear unnatural even by an input profile other than a certain particular input profile, no considerable labor is required for creating profiles and no large memory area is required for storing the profiles. A color conversion method includes holding a color space used for color conversion for color data having specific color space characteristics in advance, comparing color space characteristics of the inputted color data with color space characteristics of the color space held in advance, performing color conversion using gradation characteristics of the inputted color data and a color space of the inputted color data when a difference between the color space characteristics is a set threshold level or less, and performing color conversion using the gradation conversion data of the inputted color data and the color space held in advance when the difference is over the set threshold level.

Abstract: In the color management system, output profile of each connected output device is detected and a color reproduction region which is a region in color space is obtained. The color reproduction region is a range of color which can be reproduced by the output device. The conjunction of all color reproduction regions is obtained as a common color reproduction region and an edit profile restricted to the common color reproduction region is generated and updated. The range of the color information in image data for image editing is restricted to the common color reproduction region. Thereby, color space compression is unnecessary when outputting an image from each output device, and output images from output devices have the same color tone.

Abstract: A profile creating system has, as profile creating modes, a display mode for the purpose of creating a profile of a display and a printer mode for the purpose of creating a profile of a printer, and one of the modes can be selected. In the display mode, the screen of the display displaying a predetermined reference image is captured by a digital camera, and a computer creates a profile on the basis of the captured image. On the other hand, in the printer mode, a predetermined reference image is printed by the printer, the printed image is photographed by the digital camera, and the computer creates a profile on the basis of the captured image. In such a manner, both of a profile of the display and that of the printer can be created at low cost.

Abstract: The nature of the target image to be corrected is identified in regard to whether it is a still image or a moving image, and where it is a moving image, correction is performed with regard to the entire image, and where it is a still image, the image is divided into multiple sections and correction is carried out with regard to the image in each such section.

Abstract: From profiles of an input color space and an output color space, the specific color data on respective color spaces are obtained, and a color space compression parameter is set based on each specific color data obtained. In other words, the color space compression parameter for appropriately converting data within the input color space into data within the output color space is derived from each specific color data. The color space compression processing (color matching) is performed on an absolute color space using the derived color space compression parameter so that it becomes possible to perform at a higher speed an appropriate color matching that takes into account the characteristics of the input color space and the output color space.

Abstract: A digital camera has a correcting process determining section for determining an image correcting process in accordance with the metering type uses in capturing the image. In the case where spot metering is performed, a correcting process for making a metering area proper is determined, thereby making an image correction in which intention of the user is reflected. In the case where multi-area metering is performed, a metering value and a result of scene determination are transferred from an exposure determining section to a correction controlling section. By using the information obtained in the metering process also for the image correction, the correction time can be shortened.

Abstract: The gray axis of an input apparatus is shifted so as to match the gray axis of an output apparatus. Each data on a plane of equal lightness located in the Gamut of the input apparatus is shifted in the same direction in accordance with the shift of the gray axis by an amount of shifting smaller in proportion to greater distance from the gray axis. Therefore, the image is not governed by the chromaticness in the shifting direction even if the gray axis is shifted. Points located outside the Gamut of the output apparatus is compressed-converted into points within the Gamut (surface) where color difference is minimized while maintaining the lightness. A desired image is reproduced without inversion in the lightness after Gamut compression between data.

Abstract: In the color management system, output profile of each connected output device is detected and a color reproduction region which is a region in color space is obtained. The color reproduction region is a range of color which can be reproduced by the output device. The conjunction of all color reproduction regions is obtained as a common color reproduction region and an edit profile restricted to the common color reproduction region is generated and updated. The range of the color information in image data for image editing is restricted to the common color reproduction region. Thereby, color space compression is unnecessary when outputting an image from each output device, and output images from output devices have the same color tone.