Abstract: Photography is automatically performed when a subject assumes expressions or poses that are considered to be desirable. Shapes that represent facial expressions of human subjects are repeatedly extracted from images, which are being imaged by a camera. Degrees of match between the extracted shapes and predetermined shapes are calculated. The subjects are photographed when the calculated degrees of match exceed a predetermined value.

Abstract: The method and apparatus for detecting particular regions detect one or more particular region candidates in a first image, perform face detection in a region including at least one of the thus detected particular region candidates by using a second image having a scene as same as the first image in which the particular region candidates are detected, but being different in resolution from the first image, and specify as a particular region of a detection target a particular region candidate that is included in the region where a face can be detected. The program for detecting particular regions causes a computer to execute the method.

Abstract: The particular region detecting method and apparatus detect particular region candidates in an image, then perform face detection in a region including one of the detected particular region candidates and specify as a particular region of a detection target the one candidate included in the region where a face can be detected. In the method and apparatus, detection conditions is changed for at least one of the candidate detection and the face detection between main and non-main portion regions of the image, face information regarding the face detected in the region is stored and the face detection corresponding to a particular region candidate to be next subjected to the face detection is performed using the thus stored face information. The program is caused a computer to execute the method.

Abstract: An image, which is subjected to a non-standard image processing selectively performed in image units in addition to standard image processings performed when a main print is produced, is subject to an image processing equivalent to a processing performed when the main print is produced or characters indicating the contents of the non-standard image processing are added when an index print is produced. If distortion aberration correction processing is performed when the main print is produced, and an image processing equivalent to the distortion aberration correction processing is not performed when the index print is produced, a frame indicating an image range on the main print is superposed and recorded on an index image.

Abstract: In the invention, a particular-region such as red-eye region of a photographed image is detected, the image including a person as an object. At first a particular region candidate satisfying detection conditions for the particular region candidate is detected from the image. Then, a face region of the person satisfying detection conditions for the face region of the person is detected and the particular region candidate is specified as a particular region to be detected, in a condition that the particular region candidate is included in the detected face region. On the other hand, the image is divided into first and second regions at least before the detecting of the face region of the person. The detection conditions used for the detection for the particular region candidate or the detection for the face region of the person are changed between the first region and the second region of the image.

Abstract: A particular-region such as red-eye region of a person in an image is detected at a high speed by a particular-region detection apparatus, as follows. At first, a region of the image satisfying detection conditions for particular region candidates is detected as a particular region candidate. Next, a face region of a first person is detected and the particular region candidate is specified as a particular region to be detected on condition that the particular region candidate is included in the detected face region. Then, face information regarding a face of the first person obtained when the face region is detected is stored. When a face region of a second person is further detected in the image or other image after storing of the face information, the face information is accessed and recalled and the face region of the second person is detected by using the face information as a face detection condition.

Abstract: The image processing apparatus subjects input image data to predetermined image processing to create output image data to be output as a print. The processing apparatus includes an extracting device for extracting a main subject from the input image data and a first determining device for determining a print magnification and a frame position in accordance with a size of the extracted main subject and a previously designated print size. The processing apparatus optionally includes a second determining device for determining a use of the print from an identification code input when a photograph is taken. The certification photograph taking apparatus includes an inputting device for inputting an identification code indicating a use of a print and optionally a print size.

Abstract: The image processing method performs predetermined processing on first image data of an first image obtained by optical photographing to obtain second image data for outputting. The method detects each pupil region, in which a red eye phenomenon occurs, in the first image based on the first image data, performs red eye correction on the detected pupil region through image processing based on the first image data and generates an appropriate catch light in the detected pupil region having undergone the red eye correction to obtain a second image having the appropriate catch light to a photographed scene of the first image.

Abstract: The image processing apparatus subjects input image data to predetermined image processing to create output image data to be output as a print. The processing apparatus includes an extracting device for extracting a main subject from the input image data and a first determining device for determining a print magnification and a frame position in accordance with a size of the extracted main subject and a previously designated print size. The processing apparatus optionally includes a second determining device for determining a use of the print from an identification code input when a photograph is taken. The certification photograph taking apparatus includes an inputting device for inputting an identification code indicating a use of a print and optionally a print size.

Abstract: The image processing method and apparatus read photoelectrically an original image to obtain input image data and subject the input image data to image processing to obtain output image data. The method and apparatus perform first conversion for outputting an image file and second conversion for outputting a print as the image processing on the input image data obtained by a single image reading operation and output first image data for outputting the image file and second image data for outputting the print. The method and apparatus make it possible to output both of the photographic print and the image file, which have a good image quality, by a simple operation and with a high operation efficiency.

Abstract: A user can easily preview image data obtained by photography in a facility such as a theme park and an entertainment facility and can place an order on the image data during the stay in the facility. A service server stores the image data obtained by photography of the user by a photography system, by relating the image data to the user ID of the user. When the user instructs the service server to display the image data for preview via a communication apparatus, the service server sends the image data to a PDA via the communication apparatus. The user displays the image data on the PDA and can preview and edit the image data, and can place a printing order.

Abstract: The image processing method and apparatus acquire input image data from the image recorded optically with a taking lens, acquire the information about the lens used to record the image and perform image processing schemes on the input image data using the acquired lens information, provided that the type of the lens used is identified from the acquired lens information and the intensity of sharpness enhancement of the corresponding image is altered in accordance with the identified lens type.

Abstract: The image processing method and apparatus acquire input image data from the image recorded optically with a taking lens, acquire the information about the lens used to record the image and perform image processing schemes on the input image data using the acquired lens information, provided that the type of the lens used is identified from the acquired lens information and the intensity of sharpness enhancement of the corresponding image is altered in accordance with the identified lens type. Using the obtained lens characteristics as well as the position information for the recorded image, the input image data is subjected to aberration correction for correcting the deterioration in image quality due to the lens characteristics.

Abstract: A photographing control device controls an imaging device so that the imaging device obtains a still image of a subject when a movement analyzing device judges that the subject has become still.

Abstract: A subject user is photographed in a photographing system in a theme park. At this time, photographs are taken a plurality of times at a predetermined time interval. Further, an instruction is given to photograph a specified number of times according to a number of persons included in an image which will be photographed. It is judged whether or not persons included in a plurality of image data obtained by photographing have their eyes open. A single set of image data which is judged to include the persons with open eyes is sent to an image storage server and stored in the image storage server.

Abstract: The image processor performs aberration correction processing for correcting aberration due to a photographic lens on input image data obtained from an image optically photographed through the photographic lens of a camera and predetermined image processing on the input image data so as to obtain output image data. The predetermined image processing is performed after the aberration correction processing. Alternatively, The predetermined image processing is performed prior to the aberration correction processing. As a result, the image processor is capable of correcting the aberration due to the lens which degrades the quality of a print without causing any inconvenience, thereby obtaining a high-quality image.

Abstract: Photography is automatically performed when a subject assumes expressions or poses that are considered to be desirable. Shapes that represent facial expressions of human subjects are repeatedly extracted from images, which are being imaged by a camera. Degrees of match between the extracted shapes and predetermined shapes are calculated. The subjects are photographed when the calculated degrees of match exceed a predetermined value.

Abstract: Provision of synthesized images, in which images that have been photographed at a plurality of locations are favorably laid out according to the photography locations thereof, is enabled. Subjects who hold wireless tags, in which subject specifying data is recorded, are photographed by a plurality of photography units, which are provided at predetermined locations. At the time of photography, the subject specifying data is obtained from the wireless tags. The photographed images and the subject specifying data are transmitted together to a server, where they are stored. The server searches for image data sets from among image data sets stored therein, in which a predetermined subject is pictured, based on the subject specifying data. The server also searches for predetermined template data sets, based on the photography locations of the located image data sets. Synthesized images are generated by synthesizing the image data sets in predetermined layouts.

Abstract: An image processing method and apparatus arranged to output an image signal for reproducing an image of favorable quality without any considerable reduction in contrast and sharpness even from a high-contrast wide-dynamic-range image by performing dynamic range compression processing, which is as effective as the conventional dodging. Also, the method and apparatus are effective in reducing appearance of a pseudo edge band, which is caused when dynamic range compression is performed at a high compression ratio. A plurality of unsharp image signals representing unsharp images of an original image are generated from an image signal representing the original image. One synthesized unsharp image signal is generated from the plurality of unsharp image signals. The dynamic range compression processing is performed on the image signal of the original image on the basis of the synthesized unsharp image signal.

Abstract: An image, which is subjected to a non-standard image processing selectively performed in image units in addition to standard image processings performed when a main print is produced, is subject to an image processing equivalent to a processing performed when the main print is produced or characters indicating the contents of the non-standard image processing are added when an index print is produced. If distortion aberration correction processing is performed when the main print is produced, and an image processing equivalent to the distortion aberration correction processing is not performed when the index print is produced, a frame indicating an image range on the main print is superposed and recorded on an index image.