JP2006011618A - Photographic image processing method and apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a photographic image processing apparatus capable of performing image processing for sharpening while suppressing the roughness of an image to the extent that it can be appreciated, at a high speed.
SOLUTION: Face area detecting means for detecting a face area of a person from original image data, and first sharpening processing means for performing a first sharpening process on first area data including the detected face area. The second sharpening processing means for performing a second sharpening processing having a strength higher than that of the first sharpening processing on at least the area data other than the first area, and the first sharpening processing means The face area data is cut out from the original image data, the first sharpening process is performed on the cut face area data, and the second sharpening processing means performs the second sharpening process on the original image data. Processing is performed, and the face area data processed by the first sharpening processing means is pasted on the image data subjected to the second sharpening processing.
[Selection] Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a photographic image processing method, a photographic image processing apparatus, and a photographic image processing method for sharpening original image data read from a developed silver halide photographic film by a film scanner and original image data photographed by a digital still camera. The present invention relates to an image processing program.

Generally, when processing a digital image obtained by taking a silver halide photograph image with a film scanner and outputting it with a photographic printer, an input system such as a film scanner or a digital still camera and an output system such as a photographic printer There is a problem that the sharpness decreases due to each unique cause and the image quality of the output photo deteriorates, and in order to recover the deteriorated sharpness, sharpening processing using a Laplacian filter or unsharp mask was performed, In such sharpening processing, when the sharpness of the image is improved, there is a problem that granular noise or the like is noticeable on a flat portion such as a face or a skin portion, resulting in a rough image. Therefore, if the sharpening process is weakened, the feeling of roughness is reduced, but the sharpness of the entire image is reduced, so that a photographic print that can be enjoyed cannot be obtained. Such a problem is not a problem peculiar to a silver salt photograph, and various images such as shot noise and electric noise are improved when the sharpness of an image is improved even for a digital image taken with a digital still camera or the like. It is recognized as a similar problem that noise is conspicuous. Therefore, conventionally, various image processing methods have been proposed in which the characteristics of the original image are extracted and different sharpening processes are complicatedly involved based on the extracted characteristics of the original image.
JP 2001-76134 A

  However, as a result of a general sharpening process on a photographic image, the above-described complex sharpening process method is executed even though the roughness of the image is particularly problematic in the face area of a person. However, there is a problem that processing time becomes long because complicated arithmetic processing needs to be repeatedly executed for the entire image. In particular, a considerable amount of time is required for an enlarged image.

  In view of the above-described conventional drawbacks, the present invention provides a photographic image processing method, an apparatus, and the like that can perform image processing for sharpening while suppressing image roughness to the extent that it can be appreciated. With the goal.

  In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a first characteristic configuration of a photographic image processing method according to the present invention is a photograph for sharpening input original image data as described in claim 1 of the claims. An image processing method, comprising: a face area detecting step for detecting a human face area from the original image data; and a first sharpening process for performing a first sharpening process on first area data including the detected face area. And a second sharpening process step of performing a second sharpening process having a higher strength than the first sharpening process on at least region data other than the first region.

  According to the above-described configuration, the face area detected from the original image data in the face area detection step is separated into the other area and the sharpening process having different intensities is executed between the face area and the other area. At this time, the first sharpening process performed on the face area is sharpened to such an extent that the roughness of the face is not noticeable, and the second sharpening process performed on the other areas is first sharpened. Since the sharpening process having a higher strength than the sharpening process in the processing step is executed, the degree of sharpness is greatly improved. Therefore, for a photographic print that can withstand rough viewing of the face area while fully sharpening the entire image using general-purpose sharpening technology, without using sophisticated and complex image processing technology. Thus, a high-speed image processing method can be obtained.

  In the second feature configuration, as described in claim 2, in addition to the first feature configuration described above, the first sharpening process step cuts and cuts out the face area data from the original image data. The first sharpening process is performed on the face area data, and the second sharpening process step performs the second sharpening process on the original image data, and the second sharpening process. The face area data after the processing in the first sharpening processing step is pasted on the image data subjected to the above.

  According to the above-described configuration, in the second sharpening processing step, the entire image can be sharpened at high speed without separating the area from the original image, and the image after the first sharpening processing is performed on the processed image. By pasting, the final image can be obtained efficiently.

  In the third feature configuration, as described in claim 3, in addition to the second feature configuration described above, the second sharpening processing step is stepwise from the original image in a radial manner centering on the first region. A plurality of area data spread out, and sharpening processing is performed so that each area data is separated from the first area, and each image data after the sharpening process is far away from the first area. It is in the point that it sticks in order from the thing.

  According to the above configuration, the sharpness gradually changes radially from the first region, so that even if sharpening processing with greatly reduced intensity is performed on the face region, the sharpness boundary is recognized with the surrounding image. Thus, the sharpening process can be performed with a natural feeling from the face area to the periphery without causing such inconvenience.

  In the fourth feature configuration, as described in claim 4, in addition to any of the first to third feature configurations described above, the first sharpening treatment step further includes a grain suppression process. It is in.

  If the strength of the sharpening process in the first region is too weak, the image becomes blurred, and if it is too strong, roughness occurs. Therefore, it is possible to suppress roughness while maintaining sharpness by applying grain suppression processing after performing strong sharpening processing to some extent, without making full use of advanced and complicated image processing technology, This makes it possible to produce high-quality photo prints.

  The first characteristic configuration of the photographic image processing apparatus according to the present invention is the photographic image processing apparatus for sharpening the input original image data, as described in claim 5, Face area detecting means for detecting a face area, first sharpening processing means for performing a first sharpening process on the first area data including the detected face area, and at least area data other than the first area On the other hand, the second sharpening process means performs a second sharpening process having a strength higher than that of the first sharpening process.

  In the second feature configuration, in addition to the first feature configuration described above, the first sharpening processing unit cuts out the face area data from the original image data, and cuts out the face area data. The first sharpening process is performed on the face area data, and the second sharpening processing unit performs a second sharpening process on the original image data, and the second sharpening process. The face area data after the processing by the first sharpening processing means is pasted on the image data subjected to the above.

  In the third feature configuration, as described in claim 7, in addition to the second feature configuration described above, the second sharpening processing unit is configured such that the second sharpening processing unit is stepped radially from the original image around the first region. A plurality of area data spread out, and sharpening processing is performed so that each area data is separated from the first area, and each image data after the sharpening process is far away from the first area. It is in the point that it sticks in order from the thing.

  In the fourth feature configuration, as described in claim 8, in addition to any of the first to third feature configurations described above, the first sharpening processing means further includes a granularity suppression processing means. In the point.

  According to the first characteristic configuration of the photographic image processing program of the present invention, as described in claim 9, a face area detecting step for detecting a face area of a person from input original image data in a computer is detected. A first sharpening process step of performing a first sharpening process on the first area data including the face area, and at least stronger than the first sharpening process on area data other than the first area; This is a photographic image processing program for executing a second sharpening process step for performing a strong second sharpening process.

  In the second feature configuration, as described in claim 10, in addition to the first feature configuration described above, the first sharpening processing step cuts and cuts out the face area data from the original image data. The first sharpening process is performed on the face area data, and the second sharpening process step performs the second sharpening process on the original image data, and the second sharpening process. The face area data after the processing in the first sharpening processing step is pasted on the image data subjected to the above.

  In the third feature configuration, as described in claim 11, in addition to the second feature configuration described above, the second sharpening processing step is stepwise from the original image in a radial manner centering on the first region. A plurality of area data spread out, and sharpening processing is performed so that each area data is separated from the first area, and each image data after the sharpening process is far away from the first area. It is in the point that it sticks in order from the thing.

  In the fourth feature configuration, as described in claim 12, in addition to any of the first to third feature configurations described above, the first sharpening treatment step further includes a granularity suppression treatment step. In the point.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a photographic image processing method, an apparatus thereof, and the like that can perform image processing for sharpening while suppressing roughness of the image to an extent that can be appreciated. Can now.

  The photographic image processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described below. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the digital photographic image processing apparatus includes a film scanner 1a that reads a photographic image from a filmed negative film (hereinafter simply referred to as “film”) F, and a digital still camera. The image data input unit 1 includes a media driver 1b corresponding to various card-type memories M such as an SD card or a memory stick in which captured image data is stored, and a hard disk or the like that stores the input image data. An image data storage unit 2, a monitor 3 for displaying an image based on the image data, an operation input unit 4 having a keyboard and a mouse, and the operation input unit 4 for the image displayed on the monitor 3 The image processing unit 5 that edits the image data based on various operations, and the photographic paper P is exposed based on the data after the image processing. A photographic printer 6 for generating a photographic print Te, the system controller 7 controls the individual blocks of the above as a system (hereinafter referred to as "the controller 7".) Configured with a.

  The film scanner 1 a is recorded on the illumination optical system 10 that irradiates the illumination light for reading onto the film F, the film transport unit 11 that transports the film F, and the film F transported by the film transport unit 11. An image reading unit 12 for reading the frame image, and a scanner control unit 13 for controlling an image reading process by the illumination optical system 10, the film transport unit 11, and the image reading unit 12.

  The illumination optical system 10 includes a rod-shaped halogen lamp 10a arranged along a main scanning direction orthogonal to a sub-scanning direction (indicated by an arrow in FIG. 2) that is a conveyance direction of the film F, and A light control filter 10b that adjusts the color distribution of the light beam, a cylindrical lens 10c that collects the light beam in a slit shape, a diffusion plate 10d that makes the intensity distribution uniform, and a narrow slit 10e are configured. The

  The film transport unit 11 is driven by a transport motor (not shown), and includes a plurality of transport roller pairs 11a that transport the long film F toward the film projection unit directly below the slit 10e at a predetermined speed. The

  The image reading unit 12 includes a condenser lens, a CCD line sensor, a sample hold circuit, an A / D converter, and the like, and slit light from the illumination optical system 10 that has passed through the film F is collected. An analog signal formed on the CCD line sensor by the optical lens and read by the CCD line sensor is converted to digital data by the A / D converter. The CCD line sensor is composed of three lines of line sensors each provided with a color filter that selectively transmits light of each of the R component, G component, and B component of the transmitted light of the film. As the film F is conveyed, each frame image is separated into R component, G component, and B component color components and read.

  The photographic printer 6 includes a paper magazine 60 in which roll-shaped photographic paper P is accommodated, a plurality of photographic paper transport rollers 61 that pull out and transport the photographic paper P from the paper magazine 60, and a motor that drives the transport roller 61. 62, a fluorescent beam type print head 63 that exposes the photosensitive surface of the conveyed photographic paper P, a development processing unit 64 that performs development, bleaching, and fixing processes on the exposed photographic paper P, and development processing. The photographic paper P drawn out from the paper magazine 60 includes a drying unit 65 that transports the photographic paper P while drying, and a discharge unit 66 that discharges the dried photographic paper P as a final print. The paper is cut into a predetermined print size by a cutter (not shown) disposed either before or after the development processing and output to the discharge unit 66.

  The print head 63 includes three rows of a red light emission block, a green light emission block, and a blue light emission block in which phosphor elements each having a lens and a color filter mounted on a phosphor whose light emission is controlled by adjusting a grid voltage are arranged in the main scanning direction. The photographic image is exposed on the photographic paper P by controlling the driving based on the R component, G component, and B component pixel data of the image data read and edited through the film scanner 1a and the like. Is done.

  The controller 7 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM used as a data processing area, a RAM used for image data editing, hardware including peripheral circuits, and a CPU stored in the ROM. If it is divided into functional blocks related to the present invention and is composed of software consisting of programs to be executed, as shown in FIG. 3, a graphic including soft switches and the like on a window displayed on the monitor 3 A graphic user interface unit (hereinafter referred to as “GUI unit”) 7 a that generates a control command corresponding to a user operation by the operation input unit 4 via the operation screen display or the graphic operation screen, and the monitor 3 Are read from the video memory 7b and the image data storage unit 2. An image processing memory 7d to which the output image is loaded and subjected to various types of image processing; an image file editing unit 7c for editing the processed image data into an image file for writing to a medium such as a CD-R; A print data conversion unit 7e for converting the image processed data into output data corresponding to the photo printer 6 is provided.

  The image processing unit 5 is composed of software that edits a target image with a predetermined algorithm and hardware including an image processor, and a human face area for image data loaded in the image processing memory 7d A face area detecting means 5a for detecting a sharpening, a sharpening processing means 5b for performing a sharpening process, a color correcting means 5e for adjusting a color balance with respect to the sharpened image data, and a gradation for adjusting the gradation. The correction means 5f is provided.

  When a film reading command is sent from the controller 7, the scanner control unit 13 turns on the halogen lamp 10a and then drives the film transport unit 11 to transport the film F at a predetermined speed in the sub-scanning direction. Then, the frame images recorded on the film are sequentially read by the image reading unit 12, the read image data is transmitted to the controller 7, and the image data transmitted from the scanner control unit is stored in the image data storage unit 2. Is done.

  When a medium is inserted into the media driver 1 b under the control of the controller 7, image data stored in the medium is read and stored in the image data storage unit 2.

  The image data stored in the image data storage unit 2 is subjected to predetermined image processing by the image processing unit 5, and the print data converted by the print data conversion unit 7 e is output to the photo printer 6. In the photo printer 6, the print head 63 is driven based on the input print data, and the photographic paper P exposed by the print head 63 is developed and output as a photo print.

  More specifically, in the photographic image processing apparatus, when a photographic print is generated based on an image input from the film scanner 1a, a film image is first read at a low resolution by a pre-scan operation and displayed on the monitor 3. The image quality such as the color balance of each frame image is verified with the setting processing of the print size and the number of prints by the operator via the operation input unit 4 for the displayed frame image.

  This verification operation is carried out in an interactive manner between the controller 7 and the operator, and in addition to the setting of the number of prints described above, a series of operations in which the image processing conditions are determined by the image processing unit 5, sharpening processing, color correction Whether a correction result is appropriate for a low-resolution image displayed on the monitor 3 by automatically executing a series of image processing such as processing and gradation correction processing under predetermined conditions. Is evaluated by the operator, and when various inconveniences such as occurrence of color failure occur, color correction or the like is performed manually, and the correction condition is stored in the internal memory.

  When the above-described verification operation is completed and a photographic print is output, a main scan, that is, a film image reading process at a high resolution via the film scanner 1a is performed. The various image processing described above is executed, and if necessary, the image processing is executed under the correction conditions set in the verification operation. Thereafter, the print data converted by the print data conversion unit 7e is transferred to the photographic printer 6. Is output. The pre-scan operation is provided for the purpose of reducing the number of processing target pixels of the image processing performed during the above-described verification operation to increase the speed, and the image file to be read for the image captured by the digital still camera The verification operation is performed on the thumbnail image attached to, and when there is no thumbnail image, the verification operation is performed on the thumbnail image generated by thinning the input image.

  Hereinafter, an image editing process for high-resolution image data by the main scan of the film scanner 1a or high-resolution image data input from the media driver 1b will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. The image data input from the image data input unit 1 and stored in the image data storage unit 2 is developed in the image processing memory 7d in the RGB dot sequential RAW format or the RGB plane sequential RAW format in the order of the frame image unit. (S1) A face area is detected by the face area detecting means 5a (S2). Various known algorithms can be used as the face area detection algorithm by the face area detecting means 5a. As shown in FIG. 5A, a rectangle having the minimum area including the face area from the original image data. The pair of diagonal coordinates P1, P2 is output as a region. Here, the detection of the face area by the face area detecting means 5a is executed at the time of the verification operation for the low resolution data and the thumbnail image data by the pre-scan, and the high resolution data is obtained based on the obtained diagonal coordinates P1 and P2. It may be obtained by calculating the diagonal coordinates at.

  As the face area detection algorithm, for example, the algorithm disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 08-63597 can be used. That is, color feature values such as brightness, hue, saturation, chromaticity, (BR), and (GR) are obtained from the BGR value of each pixel, and the feature values of these colors are within a predetermined range. If it is, the target pixel is determined to be a skin color, edge extraction is performed on an image composed of pixels determined to be a skin color, and a predetermined size and a long axis / short axis (la / lb) are set. A degree of matching between a plurality of ellipse or circular face templates with different ratios (the face template is binarized depending on whether it is an ellipse or a contour of a circle) and the extracted edge image is obtained. When the matching degree is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, the face candidate area is determined to be processed, and the pair of diagonal coordinates P1 and P2 are output as a rectangular area having the minimum area including the area. is there.

  In addition, the face area is detected by using a pattern recognition technique using a neural network or the like that detects a human face area based on the contour of the face area, eyes, nose, mouth, ears, etc. It is also possible to output the pair of diagonal coordinates P1 and P2 as a rectangular area of the minimum area including Furthermore, it is also possible to adopt a method in which the operator designates and inputs a face area from an image displayed on the monitor 3 with a mouse.

  The sharpening processing means 5b performs a first sharpening process on image data in which the face area detected by the face area detection means 5a is the first area R0 (see FIG. 5A). Sharpening processing means 5c and second sharpening processing means 5d for performing a second sharpening process having a strength stronger than that of the first sharpening process on at least region data other than the first region R0. It is configured.

  More specifically, the first sharpening processing means 5c cuts out the face area detected by the face area detecting means 5a (S3), and only the face area as shown in FIG. 5 (b). The Laplacian filter process with an average intensity that is normally used, that is, the Laplacian filter process with an intensity that makes the roughness in the flat portion of the image inconspicuous is executed (S6).

  As shown in FIGS. 5A, 5C, and 5D, the second sharpening processing unit 5d is configured so that the second region R1, which is radially wider than the first region R0 from the original image, is centered on the first region R0. R2 and R3 are cut out (S4 and S5), and sharpening processing is performed on each area data so that the intensity increases as the distance from the first area R0 increases (S7). As shown in FIG. Each image data after the digitizing process is pasted in order from the one with the longest separation distance to the first region R0 (S9).

  The sharpening processing for each cut-out area by the second sharpening processing means 5d is stronger than the Laplacian filter used in the first sharpening processing means 5c, and the intensity is gradually increased as the area is separated from the first area R0. A strong Laplacian filter is used.

  The image data obtained in this way is adjusted so that the sharpness changes gently for each area radially expanded from the first area, for example, a sharpening process that greatly reduces the intensity in the face area Even if the image processing is performed, the sharpening process can be performed with a natural feeling from the face region to the periphery without causing a disadvantage that the boundary of the sharpness is recognized with the peripheral image.

  In the Laplacian filter processing described above, as shown in FIGS. 6A to 6D, a series of arithmetic processing is performed for each RGB component that secondarily differentiates the original image data and subtracts the value from the original image data. As a result, an undershoot and an overshoot that were not present in the original image are generated, and the inclination of the edge is increased, so that the change in the shade of the edge is emphasized and the image can be clearly seen. The filter size is appropriately set according to the original image size. For example, a filter size of 3 × 3 is preferable for 3000 × 2000 pixels, and a filter size of 5 × 5 is preferable for 6000 pixels × 4000 pixels. is there.

  However, with such sharpening processing, grain noise included in image data input from a silver halide photographic film or image data from a digital still camera in a region where the difference in shading such as the skin region of the face is not so significant. Since edges are also emphasized against shot noise and electrical noise included in the noise, roughness is caused by these. Therefore, in the sharpening processing by the first sharpening processing means 5c, a Laplacian filter as shown on the left of FIG. 6E is multiplied by a weighting factor of a smoothing filter such as a moving average filter, for example (FIG. 6E). ) Sharpness can be suppressed by using a filter as shown on the right. The sharpening intensity by such a Laplacian filter can be adjusted by multiplying each element of the filter by a weighting coefficient as described above, and the coefficient of the center pixel is set to a large value or the filter size is set to a large value. By doing so, the strength can be increased, and it is also possible to adjust them in combination. In other words, the Laplacian filter used in the second sharpening process has a strength set higher than that of the Laplacian filter used in the first sharpening process.

  The image data sharpened by the sharpening means 5b is then color-corrected by the color correction means 5e. As color correction processing, for example, based on Evans's theory that an average outdoor subject becomes close to gray when the color of the entire negative is mixed, it passes through the negative film when there is a bias in color. In the process to adjust each RGB exposure amount so that the RGB integrated light is reproduced in gray on the photographic paper, the average value of the input image data is calculated and derived for each RGB of each pixel, and each RGB average This is a process of adjusting the values so as to become predetermined values corresponding to gray. For an image for which correction conditions are individually set during the above-described verification operation, correction processing is performed based on the correction conditions.

  Further, in order to reproduce the output photographic print with a predetermined gradation, the gradation correction means 5f performs a test in advance based on the type of the photographic paper P and the state of the developing solution of the photographic printer 6. The color-corrected image data is converted based on the correction table data obtained by printing, and the processed data is converted into print data by the print data conversion unit 7e and output.

  A program for executing the above-described sharpening process is stored in the ROM provided in the image processing unit 5 and executed by the image processor, and the human face area is extracted from the input original image data. A face area detecting step to detect, a first sharpening process step of performing a first sharpening process on the first area data including the detected face area, and at least area data other than the first area A second sharpening process step for performing a second sharpening process that is stronger than the first sharpening process, wherein the first sharpening process step is performed from the original image data. The face area data is cut out, and a first sharpening process is performed on the cut face area data, and the second sharpening process step includes a second sharpening process on the original image data. Performing the second sharpening process on the face area data after the first sharpening process step, and the second sharpening process step from the original image Cut out a plurality of area data that spreads in a stepwise manner centering on the first area, and performs a sharpening process that is strong enough to separate each area data from the first area, and each image after the sharpening process The data is pasted in order from the longest distance from the first area. Furthermore, it is preferable that the first sharpening treatment step includes a granularity suppression processing step in which the granularity suppression processing described above is performed after the first sharpening processing.

  Hereinafter, another embodiment will be described. The face detection algorithms described in the above-described embodiments are examples, and the present invention is not limited to these, and known face detection algorithms can be used as appropriate.

  In the above-described embodiment, the Laplacian filter process is used as the sharpening process. However, the size and coefficient of the Laplacian filter to be used are set as appropriate, and are not limited to the examples.

  In the first sharpening processing unit described above, the Laplacian filter processing is performed on the first region, that is, the face region. However, the first sharpening processing unit further includes the grain suppression processing unit, and performs the grain suppression processing after performing the Laplacian filter processing. There may be. Grain suppression processing is smoothing filter processing that suppresses noise such as granular noise included in input image data from silver halide film and shot noise and electrical noise that appear in images captured by digital still cameras. This can be realized by applying a median filter or a variable weighted average filter for each RGB color that selectively smoothes only minute fluctuations while preserving density changes.

  In the above-described embodiment, the second sharpening processing unit cuts out a plurality of area data that spreads stepwise from the original image around the first area, and separates each area data from the first area. It has been explained that sharpening processing with a strong intensity is performed, and each image data after the sharpening processing is pasted in order from a distance that is far from the first area, but at least in the area data other than the first area On the other hand, what is necessary is just to perform a second sharpening process that is stronger than the first sharpening process, and does not cut out a plurality of area data that spreads in a stepwise manner centering on the first area. The second sharpening process having a higher strength than the first sharpening process may be uniformly performed on the area other than the first area. In addition, when a plurality of region data that radially expands stepwise from the first region, the size of the cut region and the strength of the Laplacian filter applied to the cut region can be set as appropriate within the scope of the present invention. .

  The specific configuration of the image processing unit 5 described above can be configured not only by software processing by a high-speed image processing processor but also by hardware using an ASIC or the like. Further, in the case of software processing, the processing program can be realized in the form of being installed in the hard disk of the apparatus as an application program executed under OS management.

  In the above-described embodiment, the photographic image processing program is installed in a photographic image processing apparatus having a film scanner or a photographic printer. However, the photographic image processing program is installed in a personal computer and realized as an image editing apparatus. Also good.

External view of photographic image processing device Functional block diagram of the image data processing unit Functional block diagram of system controller and image processing unit Flow chart showing sharpening processing procedure It is explanatory drawing which shows the sharpening process procedure, (a) is what the face area was detected from the original image, (b) is the image in which the first sharpening process was performed with respect to the face area, (c) is the second (D) is an image that has been subjected to the second sharpening process on the third area, (e) is a plurality of images that have been subjected to the second sharpening process, and Each explanatory drawing of the image which stuck the image which was made the 1st sharpening process one by one FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of Laplacian filter processing, where (a) is an original image, (b) is a primary differential image, (c) is a secondary differential image, (d) is an image obtained by subtracting a secondary differential value from the original image, (e ) Each illustration of Laplacian filter

Explanation of symbols

1: Image data input unit 1a: Film scanner 1b: Media driver 2: Image data storage unit 3: Monitor 4: Operation input unit 5: Image processing unit 5a: Face area detection unit 5b: Sharpening processing unit 5c: First sharpening Processing means 5d: second sharpening processing means 5e: color correction means 5f: gradation correction means 6: photo printer 7: system controller

Claims (12)

A photographic image processing method for sharpening input raw image data,
A face area detecting step of detecting a human face area from the original image data; a first sharpening process step of performing a first sharpening process on the first area data including the detected face area; A photographic image processing method comprising: a second sharpening process step for performing a second sharpening process having higher strength than the first sharpening process on area data other than the first area.   The first sharpening process step is to cut the face area data from the original image data, and to perform a first sharpening process on the cut face area data, the second sharpening process step, A second sharpening process is performed on the original image data, and the face area data processed by the first sharpening process is pasted on the image data subjected to the second sharpening process. Item 2. A photographic image processing method according to Item 1.   The second sharpening processing step cuts out a plurality of area data that radially spread from the original image in a stepwise manner centering on the first area, and the sharpness that is stronger as the area data is separated from the first area. The photographic image processing method according to claim 2, wherein the image processing is performed, and the image data after the sharpening processing are pasted in order from the one having a long separation distance with respect to the first region.   The photographic image processing method according to claim 1, wherein the first sharpening processing step further includes a graininess suppression processing. A photographic image processing apparatus for sharpening input original image data,
Face area detecting means for detecting a face area of a person from the original image data, first sharpening processing means for performing a first sharpening process on the first area data including the detected face area, and at least the above-mentioned A photographic image processing apparatus comprising: a second sharpening processing unit that performs a second sharpening process having higher strength than the first sharpening process on area data other than the first area.   The first sharpening processing means cuts out the face area data from the original image data, and performs a first sharpening process on the cut face area data, and the second sharpening processing means, A second sharpening process is performed on the original image data, and the face area data processed by the first sharpening processing means is pasted on the image data subjected to the second sharpening process. Item 6. The photographic image processing apparatus according to Item 5.   The second sharpening processing means cuts out a plurality of area data that radially expand from the original image in a stepwise manner centering on the first area, and sharpens that are strong enough to be separated from the first area for each area data. The photographic image processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the image processing is performed, and the image data after the sharpening is pasted in order from a distance farther from the first region.   The photographic image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the first sharpening processing unit further includes a graininess suppression processing unit.   A face area detecting step for detecting a human face area from original image data input to a computer, and a first sharpening process for performing a first sharpening process on the first area data including the detected face area Photographic image processing for executing a process and a second sharpening process step of performing a second sharpening process having a strength stronger than that of the first sharpening process on at least area data other than the first area program.   The first sharpening process step is to cut the face area data from the original image data, and to perform a first sharpening process on the cut face area data, the second sharpening process step, A second sharpening process is performed on the original image data, and the face area data processed by the first sharpening process is pasted on the image data subjected to the second sharpening process. Item 10. A photographic image processing program according to Item 9.   The second sharpening processing step cuts out a plurality of area data that radially spread from the original image in a stepwise manner centering on the first area, and the sharpness that is stronger as the area data is separated from the first area. The photographic image processing program according to claim 10, wherein the image processing is performed and the image data after the sharpening processing is pasted in order from the one having a long separation distance with respect to the first region.   The photographic image processing program according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the first sharpening processing step further includes a graininess suppression processing step.