JP2008072516A - Image processing apparatus and image processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To execute red-eye correction without causing waste, while correctly reflecting user's intention. <P>SOLUTION: An image processing apparatus has a red-eye detecting means for detecting an image including a region of red-eye from images recorded in a recording medium; a display control means for displaying the image including the region of red-eye and the region of red-eye on a display means depending on a result of detection in the red-eye detecting means; and a designating means for designating the region of red-eye in response to a user's operation instruction. The display control means further displays the region of red-eye designated in the designating means, and further has a red-eye correcting means for executing red-eye correction for the region of red-eye in response to the user's operation instruction. Thus, the problem can be solved. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and an image processing method.

  Image processing apparatuses such as electronic cameras for recording and reproducing still images and moving images using a memory card having a solid-state memory element as a recording medium are already on the market, and electronic cameras equipped with an electronic viewfinder such as a color liquid crystal panel are also sold. Yes.

  According to these electronic cameras, it is possible to continuously display images before photographing and to determine the composition by the user of the electronic camera, or to reproduce and display the photographed images for confirmation. Using a strobe makes it possible to capture a subject brightly even in a dark room or outdoors.

  In the reproduction display, the image stored in the recording medium can be freely browsed by the image advance button.

  However, using a strobe may cause red eyes that make the subject's eyes red. As a countermeasure, many cameras have a red-eye alleviation function that reduces the red-eye by applying light once and flashing the pupil before shooting with flash photography. However, even if the red-eye reduction function is used, the red-eye cannot be completely eliminated.

  In recent years, an image processing technique has been developed, and a camera capable of correcting an image in which red eyes are generated by image processing has come out. Patent Document 1 describes an electronic camera that can detect red eyes and highlight the detected red eyes.

JP 2000-305141 A

  However, the electronic camera described in Patent Document 1 has a problem that red-eye correction without waste that accurately reflects the user's intention cannot be performed.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object thereof is to perform lean red-eye correction that accurately reflects the user's intention.

  Accordingly, the present invention provides a red-eye detection unit that detects an image including a region relating to red eyes from an image recorded on a recording medium, and an image including the region relating to red eyes according to a detection result of the red-eye detection unit. And a display control means for displaying the red eye area on the display means, and a designation means for designating the red eye area in response to a user operation instruction, wherein the display control means The red-eye correction is performed by further displaying the red-eye area designated by the designation means on the display means and performing red-eye correction on the red-eye area displayed on the display means in response to a user operation instruction. It further has a means.

  By adopting such a configuration, first, the user can select whether to actually perform red-eye correction by detecting a red-eye area, that is, a red-eye correction target area, and displaying the detected area on the display unit. it can. In addition, even for an area that cannot be automatically detected, the user can arbitrarily designate an area that is subject to red-eye correction. Therefore, it is possible to perform a lean red-eye correction that accurately reflects the user's intention.

  The present invention may also be an image processing method, a program, and a storage medium.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to perform lean red-eye correction that accurately reflects the user's intention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the digital camera 100.
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 100 denotes a digital camera. Reference numeral 10 denotes a photographing lens. Reference numeral 12 denotes a shutter having an aperture function. An image sensor 14 converts an optical image into an electric signal. Reference numeral 16 denotes an A / D converter that converts an analog signal output into a digital signal.

  A timing generation circuit 18 supplies a clock signal and a control signal to the image sensor 14, the A / D converter 16, and the D / A converter 26, and is controlled by the memory control circuit 22 and the system control circuit 50.

  Reference numeral 20 denotes an image processing circuit. The image processing circuit 20 performs predetermined pixel interpolation processing and color conversion processing on the data from the A / D converter 16 or the data from the memory control circuit 22. Further, the image processing circuit 20 performs a predetermined calculation process using the captured image data.

  The system control circuit 50 controls the exposure control unit 40 and the distance measurement control unit 42 based on the result of the arithmetic processing in the image processing circuit 20. Thereby, AF (autofocus) processing, AE (automatic exposure) processing, and EF (flash pre-emission) processing of the TTL (through-the-lens) method are performed.

  Further, the image processing circuit 20 performs predetermined arithmetic processing using the captured image data, and performs TTL AWB (auto white balance) processing based on the obtained arithmetic result.

  A memory control circuit 22 controls the A / D converter 16, the timing generation circuit 18, the image processing circuit 20, the image display memory 24, the D / A converter 26, the memory 30, and the compression / decompression circuit 32.

  The data of the A / D converter 16 is sent to the image display memory 24 or the memory 30 via the image processing circuit 20 and the memory control circuit 22 or the data of the A / D converter 16 is directly sent to the memory control circuit 22. Written.

  Reference numeral 24 denotes an image display memory. Reference numeral 26 denotes a D / A converter. An image display unit 28 includes a TFT, an LCD, and the like. The display image data written in the image display memory 24 is displayed by the image display unit 28 via the D / A converter 26.

  The digital camera 100 can realize an electronic viewfinder function by sequentially displaying captured image data using the image display unit 28.

  The image display unit 28 can arbitrarily turn on / off the display according to an instruction from the system control circuit 50. When the display is turned off, the power consumption of the digital camera 100 can be greatly reduced.

  Reference numeral 30 denotes a memory for storing captured still images and moving images, and has a sufficient storage capacity to store a predetermined number of still images and a moving image for a predetermined time. Thereby, even in the case of continuous shooting or panoramic shooting in which a plurality of still images are continuously shot, a large amount of image writing can be performed at high speed to the memory 30. The memory 30 can also be used as a work area for the system control circuit 50.

  A compression / decompression circuit 32 compresses and decompresses image data by adaptive discrete cosine transform (ADCT) or the like, reads an image stored in the memory 30, performs compression processing or decompression processing, and stores the processed data in the memory Write to 30.

  Reference numeral 40 denotes an exposure control unit that controls the shutter 12 having a diaphragm function, and has a flash light control function by operating in cooperation with the flash 48.

  A distance measurement control unit 42 controls focusing of the photographing lens 10. A zoom control unit 44 controls zooming of the photographing lens 10. A barrier control unit 46 controls the operation of the protection unit 102 serving as a barrier.

  A flash 48 has an AF auxiliary light projecting function and a flash light control function. The exposure control unit 40 and the distance measurement control unit 42 are controlled using the TTL method. A system control circuit 50 controls the entire digital camera 100. Reference numeral 52 denotes a memory that stores constants, variables, programs, and the like for operation of the system control circuit 50.

  Reference numeral 54 denotes a display unit such as a liquid crystal display device or a speaker that displays an operation state, a message, or the like using characters, images, sounds, or the like according to execution of a program in the system control circuit 50. The display unit 54 is installed at a single or a plurality of positions near the operation unit of the digital camera 100 so that the display unit 54 can be visually recognized.

  In addition, the display unit 54 is partially installed in the optical viewfinder 104. Among the display contents of the display unit 54, the following information is displayed on the LCD or the like. For example, single shot / continuous shooting display, self-timer display, compression rate display, number of recorded pixels, number of recorded images, number of remaining shots displayed, shutter speed display, aperture value display, exposure compensation display, flash display, red-eye reduction Display. In addition, macro shooting display, buzzer setting display, clock battery remaining amount display, battery remaining amount display, error display, information display with multiple digits, recording medium 200 and 210 attachment / detachment status display, communication I / F operation display, A date / time display is also displayed.

  Among the display contents of the display unit 54, what is displayed in the optical viewfinder 104 includes in-focus display, camera shake warning display, flash charge display, shutter speed display, aperture value display, exposure correction display, and the like.

  Reference numeral 56 denotes an electrically erasable / recordable non-volatile memory, such as an EEPROM.

  Reference numerals 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, and 70 denote operation units for inputting various operation instructions of the system control circuit 50. A single unit such as a switch, a dial, a touch panel, a pointing by gaze detection, a voice recognition device, or the like Consists of multiple combinations.

Next, a more specific description of these operation units will be given.
Reference numeral 60 denotes a mode dial switch, which can switch and set each function mode such as power-off, automatic shooting mode, shooting mode, panoramic shooting mode, playback mode, multi-screen playback / erase mode, and PC connection mode.

  Reference numeral 62 denotes a shutter switch SW1, which is turned on during the operation of a shutter button (not shown), and performs AF (auto focus) processing, AE (automatic exposure) processing, AWB (auto white balance) processing, EF (flash pre-flash) processing, and the like. Instruct the start of operation.

  Reference numeral 64 denotes a shutter switch SW2, which is turned on when an operation of a shutter button (not shown) is completed, and instructs the start of a series of processing (exposure processing, development processing, recording processing) shown below. Here, the exposure process is a process of writing a signal read from the image sensor 12 as image data in the memory 30 via the A / D converter 16 and the memory control circuit 22. The development process is a process using an operation in the image processing circuit 20 or the memory control circuit 22. The recording process is a process of reading image data from the memory 30, compressing it by the compression / decompression circuit 32, and writing it to the recording medium 200 or 210.

  Reference numeral 66 denotes an image display ON / OFF switch that can set ON / OFF of the image display unit 28. With this function, when taking an image using the optical viewfinder 104, it is possible to save power by cutting off the current supply to the image display unit 28 including a TFT, an LCD, and the like.

  Reference numeral 68 denotes a quick review ON / OFF switch, which sets a quick review function for automatically reproducing image data taken immediately after photographing. In the present embodiment, in particular, a function for setting a quick review function when the image display unit 28 is turned off is provided.

  An operation unit 70 includes various buttons and a touch panel. The operation unit 70 includes a menu button, a set button, a macro button, a multi-screen playback page break button, a flash setting button, a single shooting / continuous shooting / self-timer switching button, and the like. The operation unit 70 also includes a menu movement + (plus) button, menu movement-(minus) button, reproduction image movement + (plus) button, reproduction image-(minus) button, shooting image quality selection button, exposure correction button, date. / Includes time setting buttons.

  A power control unit 80 includes a battery detection circuit, a DC-DC converter, a switch circuit that switches a block to be energized, and the like. The power supply control unit 80 detects the presence / absence of a battery, the type of battery, and the remaining battery level, controls the DC-DC converter based on the detection result and the instruction of the system control circuit 50, and requires the necessary voltage. It is supplied to each part including the recording medium for a period.

  82 and 84 are connectors. A power source 86 includes a primary battery such as an alkaline battery or a lithium battery, a secondary battery such as a NiCd battery, a NiMH battery, or a Li battery, an AC adapter, or the like.

  Reference numerals 90 and 94 denote interfaces (I / F) with recording media such as memory cards and hard disks. Reference numerals 92 and 96 denote connectors for connecting to a recording medium such as a memory card or a hard disk. A recording medium attachment / detachment detection unit 98 detects whether the recording medium 200 or 210 is attached to the connectors 92 and / or 96.

  Although the present embodiment has been described as having two systems of interfaces and connectors for attaching the recording medium, the interface and connectors for attaching the recording medium may be configured to have either a single system or a plurality of systems. Moreover, it is good also as a structure provided with combining the interface and connector of a different standard.

  Further, the interface and the connector may be configured using a PCMCIA card, a CF (Compact Flash (registered trademark)) card, or the like that conforms to a standard.

  Furthermore, when the interfaces 90 and 94 and the connectors 92 and 96 are configured using a PCMCIA card, a CF card, or the like that conforms to a standard, the user connects a communication card. As a result, image data and management information attached to the image data can be transferred to and from other computers and peripheral devices such as a printer. The communication card is, for example, a LAN card, a modem card, a USB card, an IEEE 1394 card, a P1284 card, a SCSI card, or the like.

  A protection unit 102 is a barrier that prevents the imaging unit from being soiled or damaged by covering the imaging unit including the lens 10 of the digital camera 100.

  Reference numeral 104 denotes an optical viewfinder. The digital camera 100 can take an image using only the optical viewfinder 104 without using the electronic viewfinder function of the image display unit 28. Even if some functions of the display unit 54 are installed in the optical viewfinder 104, for example, focus display, camera shake warning display, flash charge display, shutter speed display, aperture value display, exposure correction display, etc. Good.

  A communication unit 110 has various communication functions such as RS232C, USB, IEEE1394, P1284, SCSI, modem, LAN, and wireless communication.

  Reference numeral 112 denotes a connector for connecting the digital camera 100 to another device by the communication unit 110 or an antenna in the case of wireless communication.

  Reference numeral 200 denotes a recording medium such as a memory card or a hard disk. The recording medium 200 includes a recording unit 202 composed of a semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk, or the like, an interface 204 with the digital camera 100, and a connector 206 for connecting with the digital camera 100.

  Reference numeral 210 denotes a recording medium such as a memory card or a hard disk. The recording medium 210 includes a recording unit 212 composed of a semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk, or the like, an interface 214 with the digital camera 100, and a connector 216 for connecting with the digital camera 100.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of an external configuration of the digital camera 100. In FIG. 2, unnecessary components are omitted for the sake of simplicity.

  Reference numeral 2-1 denotes a power ON / OFF button used by the user when the power is turned ON / OFF. 2-2 is a mode switching lever used by the user when switching modes. The user can use the mode switching lever 2-2 to switch and set each function mode such as a playback mode, a moving image shooting mode, and a still image shooting mode.

  The captured image of the camera is displayed on the image display unit 2-3. However, since an LCD (liquid crystal display) is normally used for the image display unit 2-3, it is hereinafter referred to as an LCD 2-3. A screen for reproducing a still image or a moving image is also displayed on the LCD 2-3. Reference numeral 2-4 denotes a shutter button. In the still image shooting mode, the user determines AE / AF by half-pressing the shutter button 2-4, and performs shooting by fully pressing the shutter button 2-4.

  2-5 is a TELE / WIDE button. In the zoomable digital camera, when the user presses the TELE / WIDE button 2-5 to the TELE side, the angle of view changes to the telephoto side, and when the user presses to the WIDE side, the angle of view changes to the wide angle side.

  2-6, 2-7, 2-8, 2-9, 2-10, 2-11 and 2-12 are respectively a MENU button, a DISP button, a cross button, a SET button, a P / S button, a JUMP button, ERASE button. These buttons are used when changing shooting parameters and camera information display settings during shooting, and are used when giving instructions for image forwarding and image editing in the playback mode. The P / S button 2-10 is an operation button used when the digital camera 100 and the printer are connected and printing is performed by a button operation on the camera side.

  In the image processing circuit 20, the digital camera 100 detects whether a face or red eyes are included in the image, and performs image correction on red eyes for those that may have red eyes based on the detection result. be able to. In addition, the user can select whether to perform red-eye correction automatically at the time of shooting. If the user is set to automatically perform red-eye correction during shooting, the digital camera 100 automatically performs red-eye correction when detecting that red-eye is included in the image shot during shooting. Are stored on a recording medium. In the playback mode, the user can instruct red-eye correction for an image that has already been shot.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example in which a red-eye correction screen is displayed on the LCD 2-3 in the playback mode. When the user presses the MENU button 2-6 and selects the red-eye correction menu from the playback menu, the digital camera 100 displays a red-eye correction screen for the image on the LCD 2-3.

  The digital camera 100 automatically determines the red-eye correction area in the image processing circuit 20 and displays it as a square frame.

  The upper left arrow of the middle square frame in FIG. 3A indicates that the middle square frame is the currently selected red-eye correction region. In such a state, when the user presses the JUMP button 2-11, the arrow moves to the left square frame as shown in FIG. Here, when the user presses the JUMP button 2-11 again, as shown in FIG. 3A, the arrow moves to the middle square frame.

  The red-eye correction area can be designated by the user in addition to automatic recognition by the digital camera 100. The user can also specify a plurality of red-eye correction areas at a time.

When the user presses the UP button of the cross button 2-8, the digital camera 100 displays a correction area editing screen as shown in FIG. The user can change, add, or delete the red-eye correction area on the correction area editing screen.
When the user presses the SET button 2-9, the digital camera 100 performs red-eye correction for the designated red-eye correction region. When the user presses the MENU button 2-6, the digital camera 100 ends the display of the red-eye correction screen.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example in which a correction area editing screen is displayed on the LCD 2-3. A square frame with an arrow on the upper left indicates the currently selected red-eye correction region. In addition, the currently selected red-eye correction area is enlarged and displayed at the lower right of the correction area editing screen.

  The user can move (change) the already set red-eye correction area by using the JUMP button 2-11. Further, the user can move the square frame of the currently selected red-eye correction area by using the cross button (UP / DOWN / RIGHT / LEFT button) 2-8.

  Further, the user can enlarge / reduce the size of the square frame of the currently selected red-eye correction area by using the TELE / WIDE button 2-5. Further, the user can change the aspect ratio by rotating the square frame of the currently selected red-eye correction region by using the DISP button 2-7. Further, the user can delete the square frame of the currently selected red-eye correction region by using the ERASE button 2-12.

  In addition, the user can create a new red-eye correction area and arbitrarily set the red-eye correction area by using the P / S button 2-10.

  In the present embodiment, the red-eye correction area is an area having an aspect ratio of 1: 2 with a size that allows both eyes to enter. Here, the digital camera 100 displays the size and position of the newly created square frame (that is, the red-eye correction area) on the LCD 2-3 with the same size as the existing red-eye correction area.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of processing when a new red-eye correction region is added.

  When the digital camera 100 detects that the user has performed an operation indicating that a red-eye correction area is newly added using the P / S button 2-10 or the like, the digital camera 100 starts the process shown in S1.

  In step S1, the digital camera 100 determines whether or not a red-eye correction area has been previously set for the image displayed on the LCD 2-3. If it is determined that the red-eye correction area has been previously set, the digital camera 100 proceeds to step S3. On the other hand, when determining that the red-eye correction area has not been set before, the digital camera 100 proceeds to step S2.

  In step S2, the digital camera 100 displays a square frame indicating a red-eye correction area with a default size and position. In the present embodiment, the default position is the middle of the image. In step S3, the digital camera 100 displays a square frame indicating the red-eye correction area with the same size and position as the previously set red-eye correction area. In step S3, the digital camera 100 may always display the red-eye correction area in the middle.

  In addition, for example, a continuously shot image or a bracketed image may have a subject that is subject to red-eye correction at the same position and size. Therefore, if the shooting record information of the image to which the red-eye correction area is to be added includes information indicating continuous shooting or bracket shooting, the digital camera 100 may perform the following processing. Good. That is, if the red-eye correction area has not been set for the image displayed on the LCD 2-3 before, the digital camera 100 does not have the red-eye correction area for the related image. The square frame is displayed with the same size and position as the area.

  In the present embodiment, the upper limit of display of a square frame indicating the red-eye correction region is set to 35 for the same image.

  In step S4, the digital camera 100 determines whether or not the user has determined a red-eye correction area. If the digital camera 100 determines that the user has determined the red-eye correction area, the digital camera 100 ends the processing illustrated in FIG. 5. If the digital camera 100 determines that the red-eye correction area has not been determined, the process proceeds to step S5.

  For example, the digital camera 100 determines that the red-eye correction area has been determined when the red-eye correction area is changed with the JUMP button 2-11 or the square frame indicating the red-eye correction area is deleted with the ERASE button 2-12. Further, for example, when the digital camera 100 determines that the red-eye correction screen has been ended with the MENU button 2-6, the digital camera 100 determines that the red-eye correction area has been determined.

  In step S5, the digital camera 100 determines whether or not the user has operated the TELE / WIDE button 2-5. If the digital camera 100 determines that the user has operated the TELE / WIDE button 2-5, the process proceeds to step S6. If the digital camera 100 determines that the TELE / WIDE button 2-5 has not been operated, the process proceeds to step S7.

  In step S6, the digital camera 100 enlarges / reduces the currently selected red-eye correction area, that is, the newly created red-eye correction area, according to the operation of the TELE / WIDE button 2-5 by the user.

  In step S7, the digital camera 100 determines whether or not the user has pressed the cross button 2-8. If the digital camera 100 determines that the user has pressed the cross button 2-8, the process proceeds to step S8. If the digital camera 100 determines that the user has not pressed the cross button 2-8, the process proceeds to step S9.

  In step S8, the digital camera 100 moves the location of the red-eye correction area in accordance with the operation of the cross button 2-8 by the user.

  In step S9, the digital camera 100 determines whether or not the user has pressed the DISP button 2-7. When the digital camera 100 determines that the user has pressed the DISP button 2-7, the process proceeds to step S10. When the digital camera 100 determines that the user has not pressed the DISP button 2-7, the process returns to step S4.

  In step S10, the digital camera 100 rotates the red-eye correction area.

  The digital camera 100 can also change the already-designated red-eye correction area. The user can select (or move) an arbitrary red-eye correction area using the JUMP button 2-11, and can enlarge or reduce the red-eye correction area using the TELE / WIDE button 2-5. Of course, the user may press the JUMP button 2-11 many times to move all the red-eye correction areas while moving the red-eye correction area, and confirm whether or not the red-eye is displayed on the enlarged screen on the lower right. it can. When it is determined that red-eye correction is unnecessary, the user can delete the setting of the red-eye correction area using the ERASE button 2-12.

  Then, the user uses the MENU button 2-6 to end the correction area editing screen and return to the red-eye correction screen shown in FIG. On the red-eye correction screen, the user presses the SET button 2-9 to instruct execution of red-eye correction for the set red-eye correction area.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of displaying a red-eye correction image after execution of red-eye correction. After the execution of red-eye correction, the digital camera 100 displays a red-eye corrected image on the LCD 2-3 as shown in FIG. 6A in response to a user operation instruction. At this time, as shown in FIG. 6B, the user enlarges the image using the TELE / WIDE button 2-5, changes the display location with the cross button 2-8, and displays the red-eye correction result. Can be confirmed.

  On the screen of FIG. 6A, the user selects, for example, new save (Save New Image?) Or overwrite save (Save Image?). When the user selects new save, the digital camera 100 saves the corrected image as a new image different from the original image before correction, and when the user selects overwrite save, the digital camera 100 displays the corrected image. Save over the original image.

  When the user selects new saving or overwrite saving, the screen returns to the red-eye correction screen shown in FIG. When the user presses the MENU button 2-6 on the red-eye correction screen shown in FIG. 3, the digital camera 100 displays an inquiry as to whether or not to display the corrected image on the LCD 2-3. When the user selects to display, the digital camera 100 displays the corrected image, and when the user selects not to display, the digital camera 100 displays the image that was being selected.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the user can select whether to actually perform red-eye correction by detecting the red-eye correction area and displaying it on the LCD 2-3. Can do. Further, even for an area that cannot be automatically detected, the user can arbitrarily designate one or more areas to be corrected for red-eye. Therefore, it is possible to perform a lean red-eye correction that accurately reflects the user's intention.
In addition, according to the present embodiment, the red-eye correction area can be deleted when the red-eye correction area that is automatically detected by the digital camera 100 is not desired, so that the user's intention is accurately reflected. Red eye correction without waste can be performed. In addition, when the user manually adds a red-eye correction area, the digital camera 100 determines that the red-eye correction is performed when a red-eye correction area that has already been specified exists in the displayed image or an image related to the image. A square frame to be added is displayed according to the size and position of the area. That is, the digital camera 100 displays an additional red-eye correction area on the LCD 2-3 with the size and position. Therefore, the user is not required to change the size or the like of the reddish correction area, and convenience for the user is improved.

(Embodiment 2)
In the present embodiment, the digital camera 100 determines whether or not there is an area that is determined to be a face in a subject related to a person included in the image, and whether or not there is a possibility that the subject has red eyes. Accordingly, an example of displaying an image will be shown. In the present embodiment, an example is also shown in which information indicating whether the red-eye correction area is automatically recognized by the digital camera 100 or the red-eye correction area specified by the user is displayed.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of area display processing in the present embodiment. For example, the following processing is started when the user performs an operation of selecting an image and displaying a red-eye correction screen on the LCD 2-3 in the playback mode. Note that the process shown in FIG. 7 is executed for each subject determined to be a person included in the image.

  In step S <b> 20, the digital camera 100 determines whether or not the subject included in the image selected by the user recorded on the recording medium 200 or 210 or the like is a subject including an area related to the face. If the digital camera 100 determines that the subject includes an area related to the face, the process proceeds to step S21. On the other hand, if the digital camera 100 determines that the subject does not include an area related to the face, the digital camera 100 ends the processing illustrated in FIG. 7, and if other subjects are included in the image selected by the user, The process shown in FIG. 7 is repeated until the process shown in FIG. 7 is executed.

  In step S21, the digital camera 100 determines whether the subject has a possibility of red eyes. If the digital camera 100 determines that there is a possibility of red eyes, the process proceeds to step S22. If the digital camera 100 determines that there is no possibility of red eyes, the process proceeds to step S23. Note that the digital camera 100 may proceed to step S22 if it is determined in step S21 that the possibility of red eye is high, and may proceed to step S23 if it is determined that the possibility of red eye is low. For example, the digital camera 100 calculates the possibility of red eyes of the subject as a percentage. For example, when the digital camera 100 determines that the calculated possibility of red eye is 50% or more, the digital camera 100 determines that the possibility of red eye is high, and determines that the calculated possibility of red eye is less than 50%. It is determined that the possibility of red eyes is low.

  In step S <b> 22, the digital camera 100 displays a red-eye correction area (that is, a square frame with a dark frame color as shown in FIG. 8 described later) on the subject. On the other hand, in step S23, the digital camera 100 displays a face area (that is, a square frame with a light frame color as shown in FIG. 8 described later) on the subject.

  The digital camera 100 performs the process shown in FIG. 7 on all the subjects determined to be human included in the image selected by the user.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a red-eye correction screen that is displayed after the processing as illustrated in FIG. 7 is performed. As shown in FIG. 8A, when the possibility of red eye is high, the digital camera 100 displays a square frame with a dark frame color as the red-eye correction region. On the other hand, when it is a face but the possibility of red eyes is low, the digital camera 100 displays a square frame with a lighter frame color as the face area.

  Also, when the digital camera 100 determines that the face is related to the selected subject (or the subject related to the selected frame) in the upper right of the screen, the digital camera 100 displays the face mark and the possibility of red eyes. The percentage shown is displayed.

  Also, the digital camera 100 has an AUTO character string in the upper right corner of the screen when it is a red-eye correction area automatically detected, or a red-eye correction area set by the user. MANUAL character string is displayed.

  Note that the digital camera 100 determines that the possibility of red-eye is low, and a square frame area displayed in a light color may be a red-eye correction candidate area. In this case, when the user determines that the area is unnecessary, the user may use the UP button or the like to make a transition to the correction area editing screen so that the area can be deleted.

  In the state shown in FIG. 8A, when the user presses the UP button, the digital camera 100 changes the screen to a correction area editing screen as shown in FIG. 9A. As described above, on the correction area editing screen, the selected area is enlarged and displayed at the lower right. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of the correction area editing screen.

  As described above, the area surrounded by the light-colored frame is not the red-eye correction area, but when the area is selected by the user using the JUMP button 2-11, the digital camera 100 enlarges the area. Then, it may be displayed at the lower right. When the user presses the SET button 2-9, the digital camera 100 may display the region surrounded by the selected light-colored frame as a red-eye correction region and display it with a dark-colored frame. .

  By adopting such a configuration, even when an area surrounded by a light-colored frame is displayed, if the user wants to check red eyes and perform red-eye correction, the area is displayed. Can be used as a red-eye correction region.

  In addition, when the user presses the P / S button 2-10, the digital camera 100 newly creates and displays a red-eye correction area. Further, the digital camera 100 can move the square frame of the red-eye correction region as shown in FIG. 9B in response to the operation of the cross button 2-8 by the user.

  In addition, when the digital camera 100 moves the frame in response to the operation of the JUMP button 2-11 by the user, as shown in FIG. 9C, the information related to the currently selected frame is corrected region editing. Display on the screen. That is, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 9C, the digital camera 100 can recognize a face mark indicating that the subject is determined to be a face, a percentage indicating the possibility of red eyes, and a red eye set by the user. A MANUAL character string indicating the red-eye correction region is displayed.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the user can confirm which face is detected as red eye and which face is not detected as red eye on the red-eye correction screen or the like. In addition, even when the user is a face but is not detected as a face, the user can check on the red-eye correction screen or the like. For example, since the person on the right side of FIG. 8 is not detected as a face in the digital camera 100, no frame is displayed. If it is not detected as a face in the first place, there is a possibility of red-eye detection failure, so the user should check with special care (for example, enlargement display etc.) and specify it as a red-eye correction area if necessary. And red-eye correction can be executed.

(Embodiment 3)
In the present embodiment, an example is shown in which the digital camera 100 displays information indicating that red-eye correction has been completed for a red-eye corrected region.

  When the digital camera 100 performs the red-eye correction on the red-eye correction area, for example, information on the location and size of the area where the red-eye correction has been performed, information indicating that the red-eye correction has been performed, and the like are recorded on a recording medium or the like. , Store with image. When the image including the corrected area is displayed on the LCD 2-3, the digital camera 100 displays a check mark or surrounds the corrected area with a white frame as shown in FIG. Or display. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of displaying information indicating that red-eye correction has been performed.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the user can immediately determine whether the area has already been corrected. Therefore, it is possible to omit an unnecessary process such as designating an already corrected area as a red-eye correction area again and executing red-eye correction, and to prevent unnecessary image quality deterioration due to red-eye correction.

(Other embodiments)
Needless to say, the object of the present invention can be achieved as follows. That is, a recording medium (or storage medium) that records a program code of software that implements the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus. Then, the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus reads and executes the program code stored in the recording medium. In this case, the program code itself read from the recording medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the recording medium on which the program code is recorded constitutes the present invention.

  Also, by executing the program code read by the computer, an operating system (OS) or the like operating on the computer performs part or all of the actual processing based on the instruction of the program code. Needless to say, the process includes the case where the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized.

  Furthermore, it is assumed that the program code read from the recording medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion card inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer. After that, based on the instruction of the program code, the CPU of the function expansion card or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by the processing. Needless to say.

  When the present invention is applied to the recording medium, the recording medium stores program codes corresponding to the flowcharts described above.

  As described above, according to the above-described embodiments, it is possible to perform wasteful red-eye correction that accurately reflects the user's intention.

  The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, but the present invention is not limited to such specific embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the gist of the present invention described in the claims.・ Change is possible.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a digital camera 100. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of an external configuration of a digital camera 100. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example which displayed the red-eye correction screen on LCD2-3 in reproduction | regeneration mode. It is a figure which shows an example which displayed the correction area edit screen on LCD2-3. It is a flowchart which shows an example of a process when a red eye correction area | region is newly added. It is a figure which shows an example which displayed the red eye correction image after execution of red eye correction. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the area | region display process in this embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the red-eye correction screen displayed after performing the process as shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of a correction area edit screen. It is a figure which shows an example which displayed the information which shows that red-eye correction was completed.

Explanation of symbols

100 Digital Camera 2-1 Power ON / OFF Button 2-2 Mode Switching Lever 2-3 Image Display Unit (LCD)
2-4 Shutter button 2-5 TELE / WIDE button 2-6 MENU button 2-7 DISP button 2-8 Cross button 2-9 SET button 2-10 P / S button 2-11 JUMP button 2-12 ERASE button

Claims (7)

From the image recorded on the recording medium, red-eye detecting means for detecting an image including a region relating to red-eye,
Display control means for displaying on the display means the image including the area relating to the red eye and the area relating to the red eye according to the detection result in the red eye detection means;
In accordance with a user operation instruction, a designation means for designating a red eye area,
Have
The display control means further displays the area relating to the red eye designated by the designation means on the display means,
An image processing apparatus, further comprising: a red-eye correction unit that performs red-eye correction on a red-eye area displayed on the display unit in accordance with a user operation instruction.   The display control means includes, on the display means, identification information for identifying whether it is a red eye area related to detection by the red eye detection means or a red eye area related to designation by the designation means together with the red eye area. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus displays the image. Further comprising a face detection means for detecting an image including a region related to the face from the image recorded on the recording medium;
The said red eye detection means detects the image containing the area | region which concerns on a red eye from the image detected as the image which contains the area | region which concerns on the face in the said face detection means. Image processing device.   When the display control unit displays an image on which red-eye correction has been performed by the red-eye correction unit on the display unit, information indicating that red-eye correction has already been performed is displayed on the display unit together with the image. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus is characterized. An image processing method in an image processing apparatus,
From the image recorded on the recording medium, a red-eye detection step of detecting an image including a region relating to red-eye,
A first display control step of displaying an image including the region relating to the red eye and the region relating to the red eye on a display unit according to a detection result in the red eye detection step;
In accordance with a user operation instruction, a designation step for designating a red eye area,
A second display control step of displaying on the display means the region relating to the red eye designated in the designation step;
In response to a user operation instruction, a red-eye correction step of performing red-eye correction on a region relating to red eyes displayed on the display unit;
An image processing method comprising:   A program causing a computer to execute the image processing method according to claim 5.   A computer-readable storage medium storing the program according to claim 6.

Images