Abstract: A histogram of a digital image signal representing a color image is formed, and a dynamic range of the image signal is calculated in accordance with the histogram. A rate of dynamic range compression corresponding to a region of the image signal, in which the signal value is comparatively large, a region of the image signal, in which the signal value is comparatively small, and/or the entire region of the image signal, is set in accordance with the dynamic range and by taking a predetermined reference level of the image signal as reference. A dynamic range compressing process is carried out on the image signal with the rate of dynamic range compression having thus been set. Gradation processing is carried out on an image signal, which has been obtained from the dynamic range compressing process, and a processed image signal is thereby obtained. A visible image is then reproduced from the processed image signal.

Abstract: In a first image processing apparatus, a digital image signal representing an image before being subjected to shutting light processing, and an unsharp image signal representing an unsharp mask image used for shutting light processing are formed. The unsharp image signal is obtained from the digital image signal. Compression processing is performed on the digital image signal to form a compressed digital image signal. Compression processing is also performed on the unsharp image signal, thereby forming a compressed unsharp image signal. The compressed digital image and unsharp image signals are stored on a storage medium, and then delivered to a second image processing apparatus. In the second image processing apparatus, the compressed digital image and unsharp image signals are reproduced from the storage medium, and decompression processing is performed on the compressed digital image and unsharp image signals to obtain decompressed digital image and unsharp image signals.

Abstract: An image processing method, comprising the steps of: picking up an image recorded onto a photographic film which has been developed by dry development and generating a digital image data; determining image quality reduction degree due to graininess on the basis of any of the sensitivity of the photographic film and the film size of the photographic film, and determining a graininess parameter for reducing graininess and a sharpness parameter for determining sharpness emphasizing degree on the basis of the result of determination; and effecting image processing of the digital image data by using at least one of the determined graininess parameter and sharpness parameter.

Abstract: In a first image processing apparatus, a digital image signal representing an image before being subjected to shutting light processing, and an unsharp image signal representing an unsharp mask image used for shutting light processing are formed. The unsharp image signal is obtained from the digital image signal. Compression processing is performed on the digital image signal to form a compressed digital image signal. Compression processing is also performed on the unsharp image signal, thereby forming a compressed unsharp image signal. The compressed digital image and unsharp image signals are stored on a storage medium, and then delivered to a second image processing apparatus. In the second image processing apparatus, the compressed digital image and unsharp image signals are reproduced from the storage medium, and decompression processing is performed on the compressed digital image and unsharp image signals to obtain decompressed digital image and unsharp image signals.

Abstract: A histogram of a digital image signal representing a color image is formed, and a dynamic range of the image signal is calculated in accordance with the histogram. A rate of dynamic range compression corresponding to a region of the image signal, in which the signal value is comparatively large, a region of the image signal, in which the signal value is comparatively small, and/or the entire region of the image signal, is set in accordance with the dynamic range and by taking a predetermined reference level of the image signal as reference. A dynamic range compressing process is carried out on the image signal with the rate of dynamic range compression having thus been set. Gradation processing is carried out on an image signal, which has been obtained from the dynamic range compressing process, and a processed image signal is thereby obtained. A visible image is then reproduced from the processed image signal.

Abstract: The present invention provides a silver halide color photographic light-sensitive material which has a high sensitivity and a high image quality, and a method and apparatus for forming an image by use of the light-sensitive material. The light-sensitive material comprises a support having provided thereon three light-sensitive units each having a different color-sensitivity, wherein one of the light-sensitive units is a white-sensitive unit having a spectral sensitivity distribution satisfying the following conditions. The method and apparatus for forming images using the material, in which the material is imagewise-exposed and subject to processing, thereby forming an image, the image is read out by an image pick-up means, then subjected to digital image processing, and three or more color output signals are obtained.0.05.ltoreq.S.sub.450 /S.sub.550 .ltoreq.1.2 and 0.05.ltoreq.S.sub.600 /S.sub.550 .ltoreq.1.2 wherein S.sub.450, S.sub.550 and S.sub.

Abstract: A filtering process is carried out on an image signal representing a color image and with an infinite impulse response (IIR) filter to form an unsharp image signal, which represents an unsharp image of the color image. Dynamic range compressing is performed out on the image signal in accordance with the unsharp image signal, and a processed image signal is thereby obtained. A visible image is reproduced from the processed image signal. The dynamic range compressing process can be carried out with relatively few line memories such that the apparatus for carrying out the processing may be kept small, and the printed image having good image quality can thereby be obtained.