Image processing method

• US 7,577,310 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2006
• Issued: 08/18/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Kinjo, Naoto
• Primary Examiner(s): Bella; Matthew C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PERUNGAVOOR, SATHYANARAYA V
• Application Number:
  US11/458,312
• Publication Number:
  US 20060251299A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,127 Days
• Field of Search: 382/274
• US Class Current: 382/274
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/16 Human faces, e.g. facial parts, sketches or expressions
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/175 Static expression

Abstract

The image processing method applies image processing to an inputted image data. The method registers predetermined image processing conditions for each specific person in advance, extracts a person in the inputted image data, identifies the extracted person to find if the extracted person is the specific person and selects image processing conditions corresponding to the identified specific person to perform the image processing based on the selected image processing conditions. Amusement aspect in photography and image representation can be enhanced, and even inexperienced or unskilled persons in personal computer or image processing software can correct images.

Claims

1. An image processing method for correcting an image, the method comprising:

storing an image characteristic amount of an area image in a specific area of a first image of a subject person, wherein the storing comprises storing an image characteristic amount of an area image in a specific area of a first plurality of images of a subject person; and

a processor performing the following;

adjusting a density and a color tone of an area image in the specific area of a second image of the subject person by using the image characteristic amount of the first image, wherein the adjusting comprises adjusting a density and a color tone of an area image in the specific area of a second image of the subject person by using the image characteristic amount of at least one of said first plurality of images, the at least one of said first plurality of images selected based on a time of day,

wherein the time of day comprises at least one of morning and night,

wherein said first image and said second image are associated with the subject person based on an identity of the subject person;

said image characteristic amount of said first image for adjusting said image characteristic amount of said second image is determined according to said identity of said subject person.

2. The image processing method according to claim 1, wherein said specific area is at least one of a face of a person, an accessory that the person wears and a background.

3. The image processing method according to claim 2, wherein the face of the person is an entire face of the person.

4. The image processing method according to claim 1, wherein said specific area is a face of a person, and the area image of the first image is an image of at least one of a made-up face and a best face of said person.

5. The image processing method according to claim 4, wherein the made-up face comprises at least one of a face having a person having styled hair, a shaven face of a person, and a face of a person having a mustache.

6. The image processing method according to claim 4, wherein the face of the person is an entire face of the person.

7. The image processing method according to claim 1, wherein said second image is corrected by a plurality of area images.

8. The image processing method according to claim 1, wherein said second image comprises a still image.

9. The image processing method according to claim 8, wherein said area image of said first image is a still image area.

10. The image processing method according to claim 1, wherein said area image of said first image corresponds to emotional facial expressions.

11. An image processing method for correcting an image, the method comprising:

storing an area image in a specific area of a plurality of images of a subject person;

a processor performing the following;

associating said plurality of images with an identity of said subject person;

determining whether an identity associated with a subject person in a second image matches the identity of said subject person in associated with said plurality of images; and

if it is determined that the identity of said subject person in said second image matches the identity of said subject person associated with said plurality of images, replacing an area image in the specific area of the second image with an area image of a first image among the first plurality of images,

wherein the replacing comprises replacing an area image in the specific area of the second image of the subject person by using the area image of the first image, the first image among said plurality of images selected based on a time of day,

wherein the time of day comprises at least one of morning and night.

12. The image processing method according to claim 11, wherein said specific area is an area of eyes constituting a face of a person, and

wherein a determination is made as to whether the person, as a subject in said second image is in a stationary state, and when said person is in said stationary state, said area image in said specific area of said first image replaces said area of eyes constituting the face of said person in said second image.

13. The image processing method according to claim 12, wherein said area image of said first image is an image of the area of eyes in which a line of sight of said person is coincident with a photographing direction.

14. The image processing method according to claim 11, wherein the area image of the first image is an entire face of the subject person in the first image and the area image of the second image is an entire face of the subject person in the second image, and

wherein the replacing comprises replacing the entire face of the person in the second image with the entire face of the person in the first image.