Abstract: Image processing apparatus and methods are provided for detecting coordinate positions of characteristic portions of a face image in a target image. A method includes identifying a face area of the target image, determining initial coordinate positions for the characteristic portions, determining corrected coordinate positions for the characteristic portions by modifying the initial coordinate positions or previously generated corrected coordinate positions, and identifying the corrected coordinate positions as the coordinate positions of the characteristic portions of the face image.

Abstract: Image processing apparatus and methods are provided for specifying the positions of predetermined characteristic portions of a face image. A method includes determining an initial disposition of characteristic points in a target face image, applying a transformation to at least one of the target face image or the reference face image, and updating the disposition of the characteristic points in response to a comparison between at least one of the transformed target face image and the reference face image or the target face image and the transformed reference face image.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: a deformation area setting unit that sets an enlargement area and a reduction area in an image; a deformation processing unit that enlarges the enlargement area in a specific direction and reduces the reduction area in the specific direction; and a face detecting unit that detects a face in the image. The deformation area setting unit sets the enlargement area so as to be laid from an enlargement start position determined on the basis of the position of the face in the specific direction to the end of the image in the specific direction.

Abstract: An image processing device having a deformation area setting unit and a deformation processing unit is provided. The deformation area setting unit is configured to set an extension area and a reduction area in an image. The deformation processing unit is configured to extend the extension area in a particular direction, the deformation processing unit being configured to reduce the reduction area in the particular direction at a constant reduction rate.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a face direction estimating section that estimates a direction and a degree of swing of a face in a target image including a face image when a front direction of the face is used as a reference, and an image correcting section that transforms a correction target area to be corrected, which includes at least a part of the face image, in accordance with the degree of swing.