JP2009060357A - Image processor, image processing method, and image printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To more easily recognize the effect of image processing that is to be performed in an image processor. <P>SOLUTION: The image processor for applying prescribed image processing on an input image, to generate a corrected image has a processing effect evaluating part for evaluating the level of an image quality change by the prescribed image processing. The image processor simultaneously displays information, representing the level of the image quality change evaluated by the processing effect evaluating part and the input image or the corrected image. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing technique for generating a corrected image by performing image processing on an input image.

  In an image printing apparatus such as a printer, a scanner, a printer, a copier (also referred to as “multifunction machine” or “MFP”), image processing is performed on an image to be printed, and the printed image is more preferable. (Improves image quality). Then, the image processed image is also displayed (preview display) on the display device of the multifunction peripheral so that the user can confirm the effect of the image processing in advance.

JP 2005-167929 A JP 2002-344989 A

  However, when the display color space of the display device is different from the color space of the image processed image, depending on the state of the image, the image processed image is not accurately displayed in the preview display, and the user can May not be able to confirm. Further, even when the display device display color space and the processed image color space are the same color space and the image processed image is accurately displayed in the preview display, depending on the user, the effect may be obtained. It may be difficult to determine the presence or absence. This problem is common not only to image printing apparatuses but also to image processing apparatuses that perform image processing, such as personal computers that execute image processing software.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a technique that allows a user to more easily grasp the effect of image processing performed in an image processing apparatus. .

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to solve at least a part of the problems described above, and the invention can be implemented as the following forms or application examples.

[Application Example 1]
An image processing apparatus,
An image processing execution unit that performs predetermined image processing on the input image to generate a corrected image;
An image display control unit for displaying an image on the image display unit;
A processing effect evaluation unit that evaluates an image quality change level by the predetermined image processing performed in the image processing execution unit;
A processing effect display unit for displaying information representing the image quality change level evaluated by the processing effect evaluation unit on the image display unit simultaneously with the input image or the corrected image;
An image processing apparatus comprising:

  According to this application example, information indicating the image quality change level by the image processing is displayed on the image display unit along with the corrected image subjected to the image processing. Therefore, the user can more easily grasp the effect of image processing by the image processing apparatus.

[Application Example 2]
An image processing apparatus according to Application Example 1,
The display color space of the image display unit is a color space different from the color space of the corrected image,
The image display control unit outputs the corrected image to the image display unit without performing a color space conversion process for converting a color space of the corrected image into the display color space.
Image processing device.

  According to this application example, by omitting the color space conversion process for converting the color space of the corrected image into the display color space of the image display unit, the calculation processing amount required for displaying the corrected image on the image display unit is reduced. Can be reduced. Therefore, the corrected image can be displayed on the image display unit more quickly.

[Application Example 3]
An image processing apparatus according to Application Example 2,
A display image generation unit that generates a display image by performing the color space conversion process on the corrected image;
A display image generation instruction input unit that allows a user to input a display image generation instruction for generating the display image when information indicating the image quality change level is displayed;
With
The image processing device displays the display image on the image display unit when the display image generation instruction is input.
Image processing device.

  According to this application example, a display image subjected to color space conversion processing for converting the color space of the corrected image into the display color space of the image display unit is generated according to a user instruction, and the generated display image is generated. Is displayed by the image display unit. Therefore, the user can confirm the effect of image processing more reliably by observing the display image displayed on the image display unit.

[Application Example 4]
An image processing apparatus according to any one of Application Examples 1 to 3,
The image processing execution unit
An automatic image quality adjustment unit that automatically adjusts the image quality of the input image based on the analysis result of the input image;
The processing effect evaluation unit determines the image quality change level based on a degree of image quality adjustment processing by the automatic image quality adjustment unit;
Image processing device.

  According to this application example, in the image processing apparatus having the automatic image quality adjustment unit that automatically adjusts the image quality of the input image, the image quality change level can be determined based on the degree of image quality adjustment processing. Therefore, the image quality change level can be more easily evaluated.

[Application Example 5]
An image processing apparatus according to Application Example 4,
The automatic image quality adjustment unit
An image quality parameter calculation unit for calculating an image quality parameter representing the image quality of the input image by analyzing the input image;
A reference parameter setting unit for setting a reference parameter serving as a reference for the image quality parameter;
An image quality adjustment parameter setting unit for setting an image quality adjustment parameter based on the image quality parameter and the reference parameter;
A specific image processing execution unit that executes the image quality adjustment process according to the image quality adjustment parameter;
With
The processing effect evaluation unit evaluates the image quality change level based on the image quality adjustment parameter;
Image processing device.

  According to this application example, the image quality change level is evaluated from the image quality adjustment parameter set based on the image quality parameter and the reference parameter. Therefore, the effect of improving the image quality can be reflected in the image quality change level by setting the reference parameter in accordance with the image quality parameter of a more preferable image.

  Note that the present invention can be realized in various modes. For example, an image processing apparatus and an image processing method, an image printing apparatus and an image printing method using the image processing apparatus and the image processing method, a control apparatus and a control method of the image processing apparatus and the image printing apparatus, and an apparatus and a method thereof The present invention can be realized in the form of a computer program for realizing the above functions, a recording medium recording the computer program, a data signal including the computer program and embodied in a carrier wave, and the like.

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in the following order based on examples.
A. First embodiment:
B. Second embodiment:
C. Third embodiment:
D. Automatic image quality adjustment:
E. Evaluation of image quality adjustment effect and determination of adjustment effect rank:
F. Modified example

A. First embodiment:
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram schematically showing a configuration of an image printing system 10 to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. The image printing system 10 includes a digital still camera DSC and a scanner / copy / printer MFP (hereinafter also referred to as “multifunction MFP”). The digital still camera DSC includes a memory card slot for storing a memory card MC indicated by a one-dot chain line.

  The digital still camera DSC generates an image file in a predetermined format such as an Exif (Exchangeable Image File Format) format from the captured image. The generated image file is stored in the memory card MC. The image file stored in the memory card MC is read by the multi-function peripheral MFP by inserting the memory card MC into the multi-function peripheral MFP. The MFP MFP performs image processing on the image data in the image file read from the memory card MC, and outputs an image represented by the image data on the print medium. The digital still camera DSC and the MFP MFP can also be connected to each other by a cable CV. In this case, the image file in the memory card MC stored in the digital still camera DSC is transferred to the MFP MFP via the cable CV.

  FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the data format of the image file GF generated by the digital still camera DSC. As illustrated, the image file GF includes a header portion and a data portion. In the header section, as attached information IA, shutter speed, F value of the lens at the time of shooting (F value at the time of shooting), exposure correction amount, F value of the lens in the open state (open F value), and the lens of the lens at the time of shooting Information such as a focal length (focal length) and a scene mode (photographing mode) set at the time of photographing is included. In addition to the above information, the attached information IA may include various information such as the manufacturer name and model number of the digital still camera DSC and the shooting date and time. In the data portion, image data GD representing a captured image acquired by an image sensor (CCD, CMOS, etc.) included in the digital still camera DSC is stored in a predetermined format (for example, JPEG format).

  FIG. 3A is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the MFP MFP. The MFP MFP includes a control unit 100, a memory card slot 200, a scan engine 300, a print engine 400, and an operation panel 500.

  The control unit 100 includes a memory card control unit 110, a scan processing execution unit 120, a print processing execution unit 130, an operation panel control unit 140, an automatic image quality adjustment unit 150, and an image quality adjustment effect evaluation unit 160. is doing. The control unit 100 is configured as a computer including a central processing unit (CPU) (not shown) and a memory. The function of each unit included in the control unit 100 is realized by the CPU executing a program stored in the memory.

  The automatic image quality adjustment unit 150 analyzes image data (print image data) representing an image to be printed (print image), and performs various processes on the print image data based on the analysis result to adjust the image quality. The automatic image quality adjustment unit 150 performs processing for improving the appearance (image quality) of an image represented by image data, as will be described later. Therefore, the processing performed in the automatic image quality adjustment unit 150 can also be referred to as “image quality improvement processing”. The image quality adjustment effect evaluation unit 160 evaluates the image quality adjustment effect by the automatic image quality adjustment unit 150. Image processing in the automatic image quality adjustment unit 150 is performed in a working RGB color space (wRGB) having a wider color gamut than the sRGB (standard RGB) color space. Specific functions and configurations of the automatic image quality adjustment unit 150 and the image quality adjustment effect evaluation unit 160 will be described later. The analysis of the image data and the execution of the image processing on the image data are nothing but analysis of the image represented by the image data or image processing on the image. Therefore, in the following, analyzing image data is also referred to as analyzing an image, and performing image processing on image data is also referred to as performing image processing on the image.

  The memory card slot 200 is a mechanism for receiving the memory card MC. The memory card control unit 110 stores a file in the memory card MC inserted in the memory card slot 200, or reads out a file stored in the memory card MC. However, the memory card control unit 110 may have only a function of reading a file stored in the memory card MC. In the example of FIG. 3, the memory card MC inserted in the memory card slot 200 stores a plurality of image files GF.

  The scan engine 300 is a mechanism that scans a document placed on a document table (not shown) and generates scan data representing an image formed on the document. The scan data generated by the scan engine 300 is supplied to the scan processing execution unit 120. The scan processing execution unit 120 generates image data in a predetermined format from the scan data supplied from the scan engine 300. Note that instead of the scan processing execution unit 120, the scan engine 300 may be configured to generate image data.

  The print engine 400 is a printing mechanism that executes printing according to given print data. The print processing execution unit 130 extracts image data from the image file GF in the memory card MC via the memory card control unit 110, performs image processing on the extracted image data as necessary, and outputs image data in the wRGB color space ( wRGB image data) is generated. Print data supplied to the print engine 400 is generated by performing color conversion and halftone processing on the wRGB image data. The print data includes image data acquired by the scan processing execution unit 120, image data supplied from a digital still camera connected via a USB connector (not shown), and a personal computer connected via a USB connector. It can also be generated from received data supplied from an external device to the MFP MFP. Further, the print engine 400 can be configured to have color conversion and halftone processing functions instead of the print processing execution unit 130.

  Operation panel 500 is a man-machine interface provided in MFP MFP. FIG. 3B is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration of a part of the operation panel 500. The operation panel 500 includes a liquid crystal display 510, four direction buttons 522 to 528, an “OK” button 532, and a “return” button 534. The operation panel 500 includes various operation buttons such as a power button in addition to these operation buttons 522 to 534, but the illustration thereof is omitted here. The operation panel 500 displays an image on the liquid crystal display 510 based on the image data supplied from the operation panel control unit 140. The display characteristics of the liquid crystal display 510 are set so as to display image data in the sRGB color space (sRGB image data), and sRGB image data is supplied from the operation panel control unit 140 to the liquid crystal display 510. . In this case, the sRGB color space is also referred to as “display color space” of the liquid crystal display 510. The operation panel 500 supplies information (operation state information) indicating the operation state of the operation button to the operation panel control unit 140.

  The MFP MFP acquires an instruction given by the user to the MFP MFP based on the operation state information of the operation buttons supplied from the operation panel 500 via the operation panel control unit 140. Specifically, each unit of the control unit 100 generates menu image data representing a menu for requesting an instruction from the user, and supplies the generated menu image data to the operation panel 500 via the operation panel control unit 140. The operation panel 500 displays a menu on the liquid crystal display 510 based on the supplied menu image data. Next, each unit of the control unit 100 acquires operation state information from the operation panel 500 via the operation panel control unit 140. Each unit of the control unit 100 acquires a user instruction according to the acquired operation state information.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an image printing routine for printing an image. This image printing routine is executed by giving an image print instruction to the MFP MFP when the user operates an operation button of the MFP MFP (FIG. 3).

  In step S110, the print processing execution unit 130 (FIG. 3) displays a menu (print image selection menu) for selecting a print image on the liquid crystal display 510 of the operation panel 500. Then, a print image selection instruction given by the user using the operation buttons 522 to 534 is acquired.

  FIG. 5A shows a print image selection menu MN1 displayed on the liquid crystal display 510 in step S110. The print image selection menu MN1 displays a prompt message MP1 that prompts the user to select an image to be printed, a guidance message MG1 that indicates the correspondence between the types of operation buttons and instructions, and six images DD1 to DD6.

  The six images displayed on the print image selection menu MN1 are images of six image files among the plurality of files GF stored in the memory card MC (FIG. 3). When the user operates the right button 522 or the left button 524, the selection images indicated by the thick frames are sequentially changed. When the user operates the “OK” button 532, the selected image is set as a print image. In the example of FIG. 5A, the “OK” button 532 indicated by hatching is operated in a state where the image DD1 is selected. Therefore, the image DD1 is selected as the print image.

  In step S120 of FIG. 4, the print processing execution unit 130 (FIG. 3) displays a menu (print method selection menu) for selecting a print method on the liquid crystal display 510 of the operation panel 500. Then, a printing method selection instruction given by the user using the operation buttons 522 to 534 is acquired.

  FIG. 5B shows a printing method selection menu MN2 displayed on the liquid crystal display 510 in step S120. The printing method selection menu MN2 displays a prompt message MP2 for prompting selection of a printing method, a guidance message MG2, and two printing method messages MM1 and MM2 representing each of the two types of printing methods. When the user operates the upper button 526 or the lower button 528, printing method messages MM1 and MM2 surrounded by a thick frame are switched alternately. When the user operates the “OK” button 532, a printing method corresponding to the printing method message surrounded by a thick frame is selected. In the example of FIG. 5B, the “OK” button 532 indicated by hatching is operated in a state where the printing method message MM2 is surrounded by a thick frame. Therefore, automatic image quality adjustment printing is selected as the printing method.

  In step S130 of FIG. 4, the print processing execution unit 130 (FIG. 3) determines whether or not the print method selection instruction acquired in step S120 is an instruction to select automatic image quality adjustment printing. If the print method selection instruction is an instruction to select automatic image quality adjustment printing, control is transferred to step S140. On the other hand, if the print method selection instruction is not an instruction to select automatic image quality adjustment printing, control is transferred to step S180, and an image that has not been subjected to automatic image quality adjustment processing is printed.

  In step S140, the automatic image quality adjustment unit 150 (FIG. 3) performs automatic image quality adjustment processing on the image data of the print image selected in step S110. In step S150, the image quality adjustment effect evaluation unit 160 evaluates the image quality adjustment effect by the automatic image quality adjustment process.

  In step S160, the print processing execution unit 130 displays on the liquid crystal display 510 a preview screen including the adjusted image that has been subjected to the automatic image quality adjustment processing and the evaluation result of the image quality adjustment effect. In the first embodiment, conversion processing from the wRGB color space, which is the color space of the adjusted image, to the sRGB color space supported by the liquid crystal display 510 is not performed. Therefore, depending on the state of the adjusted image, the color of the adjusted image may not be displayed accurately on the liquid crystal display 510. However, by omitting the wRGB-sRGB color conversion, the adjusted image can be displayed more quickly.

  FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a display state of the preview screen. FIG. 6A shows a preview screen PV1 displayed when the image DD1 (FIG. 5A) is selected in step S110 (FIG. 4). On the preview screen PV1, an adjusted image DD1a obtained by subjecting the image DD1 to automatic image quality adjustment processing, a guidance message MGP, and a rank bar RNB representing an image quality adjustment effect are displayed.

  In the rank bar RNB, image quality adjustment effect evaluation values (to be described later) are displayed in four ranks (hereinafter also referred to as “adjustment effect rank”). Specifically, the adjustment effect rank is displayed by the number of rectangular bars displayed as the rank bar RNB. If the adjustment effect rank is the lowest rank (0), no bar is displayed. As the image quality adjustment effect evaluation value increases, the adjustment effect rank increases and the number of displayed bars increases.

  In the example of FIG. 6A, the pre-adjustment image DD1 (FIG. 5A) before automatic image quality adjustment is a dark image as a whole. Therefore, the luminance average value Yave (= 94) of the pre-adjustment image DD1 is lower than the standard luminance average value Yref (= 144, hereinafter also referred to as “target luminance value”) of the image in which the person is photographed. . Therefore, in the automatic image quality adjustment processing, brightness correction processing is performed to brighten the image so that the average luminance value of the adjusted image becomes the target luminance value Yref. The brightness correction parameter ΔB for determining the brightness correction degree is obtained, for example, by subtracting the brightness average value Yave from the target brightness value Yref as in the following formula (1). A method for setting the target luminance value Yref will be described later.

ΔB = Yref−Yave (1)

  In the example of FIG. 6A, the contrast of the pre-adjustment image DD1 shown in FIG. 5A is low. Therefore, the luminance standard deviation σac (= 37) of the image DD1 is lower than the standard luminance standard deviation σref (= 48, hereinafter also referred to as “target standard deviation”) of the image in which the person is photographed. Therefore, in the automatic image quality adjustment process, a contrast correction process is performed to increase the contrast of the image so that the luminance standard deviation of the adjusted image becomes the target standard deviation. The contrast correction parameter ΔC that determines the degree of the contrast correction process is obtained by subtracting the luminance standard deviation luminance standard deviation σac from the target standard deviation σref, for example, as in the following equation (2). A method for setting the target standard deviation σref will be described later.

ΔC = σref−σac (2)

  In this way, after the correction parameters for determining the degree of the correction processing performed in the automatic image quality adjustment processing are calculated, individual processing based on the correction parameters calculated for the pre-adjustment image DD1 is performed, and the adjusted image DD1a is performed. Is generated. The image quality adjustment effect evaluation unit 160 calculates an image quality adjustment effect evaluation value V from these correction parameters. The image quality adjustment effect evaluation value V is calculated using the brightness correction parameter ΔB and the contrast correction parameter ΔC, for example, as in the following expression (3).

V = 1.5 × | ΔB | + | ΔC | (3)

  In the example of Expression (3), the image quality adjustment effect evaluation value V is calculated as the sum of 1.5 times the absolute value | ΔB | of the brightness correction parameter ΔB and the absolute value | ΔC | of the contrast correction parameter ΔC. The For convenience of explanation, the image quality adjustment effect evaluation value V is calculated from the brightness correction parameter ΔB and the contrast correction parameter ΔC. However, as will be described later, in the image processing by the automatic image quality adjustment unit, brightness correction processing and In addition to the contrast correction process, various correction processes are performed. Therefore, the image quality adjustment effect evaluation value V is calculated using correction parameters for these various correction processes. A specific method for calculating the image quality adjustment effect evaluation value V in this case will be described later.

  In the example of FIG. 6A, the image quality adjustment effect evaluation value V is calculated as 86 from the brightness correction parameter ΔB (= 50) and the contrast correction parameter ΔC (= 11) thus calculated. Then, as will be described later, it is determined that the calculated image quality adjustment effect evaluation value V (= 86) corresponds to rank 3, and three bars are displayed as rank bar RNB.

  FIG. 6B shows a preview screen PV2 displayed when the image DD5 (FIG. 5A) is selected in step S110 (FIG. 4). Similar to the preview screen PV1, the preview screen PV2 displays an adjusted image DD5a obtained by subjecting the image DD5 to automatic image quality adjustment processing, a guidance message MGP, and a rank bar RNB indicating the image quality adjustment effect. .

  In the example of FIG. 6B, the pre-adjustment image DD5 shown in FIG. 5A is a slightly bright image as a whole. Therefore, the luminance average value Yave (= 160) is higher than the target luminance value Yref (= 144) of the image in which the flower is photographed. Therefore, the brightness correction parameter ΔB is set to a negative value (−16) so as to lower the brightness of the image.

  Further, in the example of FIG. 6B, the contrast of the pre-adjustment image DD5 shown in FIG. 5A is high. Therefore, the luminance standard deviation σac (= 57) is higher than the target standard deviation σref (= 48) of the image where the flower is photographed. Therefore, the contrast correction parameter ΔC is set to a negative value (−9) so that the contrast of the image is slightly lowered.

  The image quality adjustment effect evaluation value V (= 33) is calculated from the brightness correction parameter ΔB (= −16) and contrast correction parameter ΔC (= −9) calculated in this way. Then, it is determined that the calculated image quality adjustment effect evaluation value V (= 33) corresponds to rank 1, and one bar is displayed as the rank bar RNB as shown in FIG. 6B.

  When the user operates the “OK” button 532 (FIG. 3B) or the “RETURN” button 534 (FIG. 3B) while the preview screens PV1 and PV2 shown in FIG. Operation state information of the buttons 532 and 534 is supplied to the print processing execution unit 130 via the operation panel control unit 140.

  In step S170 of FIG. 4, the print processing execution unit 130 determines whether or not the user instruction given during the display of the preview screens PV1 and PV2 is an instruction to change the setting. If the user instruction is an instruction to change the setting, the control returns to step S120. On the other hand, if the user instruction is not an instruction to change the setting, that is, if the user instruction is an instruction to perform printing, control is transferred to step S180, and the adjusted image is printed.

  As described above, in the first embodiment, when the automatic image quality adjustment process is performed on the print image, the rank bar RNB indicating the image quality adjustment effect is displayed together with the adjusted image after the automatic image quality adjustment process. As will be described later, by appropriately determining the evaluation method of the image quality adjustment effect, the higher the image quality improvement effect, the higher the evaluation of the image quality adjustment effect. For this reason, by displaying the rank bar RNB representing the image quality adjustment effect, the user can more easily grasp the image quality improvement effect, so it is easier to determine whether or not to select automatic image quality adjustment printing as the printing method. be able to.

  In the first embodiment, the adjusted image in the wRGB color space generated by the automatic image quality adjustment process is output to the liquid crystal display 510 corresponding to the sRGB color space as it is. Therefore, the time required for displaying the adjusted image can be shortened. By displaying the rank bar RNB representing the image quality adjustment effect together with the adjusted image, the user can confirm the image quality improvement effect even when the color of the adjusted image is not accurately displayed due to omission of color conversion. .

B. Second embodiment:
FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the MFP MFPa in the second embodiment. The MFP MFPa of the second embodiment has a display image generation unit 170 that converts the adjusted image in the wRGB color space generated by the automatic image quality adjustment unit 150 into a display image in the sRGB color space. 3 is different from the MFP MFP of the first embodiment shown in FIG. Other points are the same as in the first embodiment.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an image printing routine in the second embodiment. The image printing routine of the second embodiment is shown in FIG. 4 in that step S160 is replaced with S160a and that three steps S172, S174, and S176 are added between steps S170 and S180. This is different from the image printing routine of the first embodiment shown. The other points are the same as in the first embodiment.

  In step S160a, the print processing execution unit 130 displays a preview screen including the adjusted image and the evaluation result of the image quality adjustment effect on the liquid crystal display 510. Even in the display of the preview screen in step S160a, the conversion process from the wRGB color space, which is the color space of the adjusted image, to the sRGB color space supported by the liquid crystal display 510 is not performed.

  FIG. 9A is an explanatory diagram showing a display state of the preview screen PV1a in the second embodiment. The preview screen PV1a of the second embodiment is different from the preview screen PV1 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 6A in that an item of “confirmation” for confirming the image is added to the guidance message MGPa. Is different. The other points are the same as the preview screen PV1 of the first embodiment.

  When the user operates the “OK” button 532, the down button 528, or the “return” button 534 in a state where the preview screen PV1a shown in FIG. 9A is displayed, the operation of these buttons 528, 532, and 534 is performed. Status information is supplied to the print processing execution unit 130 via the operation panel control unit 140. In the example of FIG. 9A, the lower button 528 indicated by hatching is operated. Therefore, an instruction for confirming an image is given as a user instruction.

  In step S172 of FIG. 8, the print processing execution unit 130 determines whether or not the user instruction given during the display of the preview screen PV1a is an instruction to confirm the image. If the user instruction is an instruction to confirm the image, the control proceeds to step S174. On the other hand, if the user instruction is not an instruction to confirm the image, that is, if the user instruction is an instruction to perform printing, control is transferred to step S180, and the adjusted image is printed.

  In step S174, the print processing execution unit 130 displays a confirmation screen. Specifically, the display image generation unit 170 (FIG. 7) performs processing for correcting the color gamut on the adjusted image in the wRGB color space, and generates a display image in the sRGB color space. Then, a confirmation screen including the generated display image and the guidance message is displayed on liquid crystal display 510 (FIG. 3).

  FIG. 9B is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the confirmation screen CFM is displayed. On the confirmation screen, a display image DD1b converted into the sRGB color space and a guidance message MGC are displayed.

  When the user operates the “OK” button 532 or the “Return” button 534 in a state where the confirmation screen CFM shown in FIG. 9B is displayed, the operation state information of these buttons 532 and 534 is displayed on the operation panel control unit. The print data is supplied to the print processing execution unit 130 via 140. In the example of FIG. 9B, an “OK” button 532 indicated by hatching is operated. Therefore, an instruction to perform printing is given as a user instruction.

  In step S176 of FIG. 8, the print processing execution unit 130 determines whether or not the user instruction given during the display of the confirmation screen CFM is an instruction to change the setting. If the user instruction is an instruction to change the setting, the control returns to step S120. On the other hand, if the user instruction is not an instruction to change the setting, that is, if the user instruction is an instruction to perform printing, control is transferred to step S180, and the adjusted image is printed.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, the MFP MFPa can acquire a user instruction as to whether or not to display the confirmation screen when displaying the preview screen. If the user instruction is an instruction to display a confirmation screen, a display image suitable for the display characteristics of the liquid crystal display 510 (FIG. 3) is generated, and a confirmation screen including the display image is displayed. Is done. Therefore, the user can more reliably grasp the result of the automatic image quality adjustment process.

  In addition, when the preview screen is displayed, the color conversion process for the adjusted image is omitted. Therefore, the time required for displaying the preview screen can be shortened. In the preview screen, a rank bar indicating the image quality adjustment effect is displayed together with the adjusted image. Therefore, even when the color of the adjusted image is not accurately displayed due to omission of color conversion, the user can improve the image quality. Can be confirmed.

  As described above, the second embodiment is preferable to the first embodiment in that the user can more reliably grasp the result of the automatic image quality adjustment process by displaying the confirmation screen. On the other hand, the first embodiment is preferable to the second embodiment in that the configuration of the MFP MFP is simpler.

C. Third embodiment:
FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the MFP MFPb in the third embodiment. The MFP MFPb of the third embodiment is different from the MFP MFP of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 3A in that it includes an image file extraction unit 180. Other points are the same as in the first embodiment.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an image printing routine in the third embodiment. The image printing routine of the third embodiment is the same as that shown in FIG. 4 in that step S110 is replaced with S110b and that four steps S112 to S118 are added between step S110b and step S120. This is different from the image printing routine of one embodiment. The other points are the same as in the first embodiment.

  In step S110b, the print processing execution unit 130 (FIG. 10) displays a print image selection menu on the liquid crystal display 510 (FIG. 3). Then, a print image selection instruction given by the user using the operation buttons 522 to 534 is acquired.

  FIG. 12A shows the print image selection menu MN1b displayed on the liquid crystal display 510 (FIG. 3) in step S110b. The print image selection menu MN1b of the third embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 5A in that an item “best shot” for extracting an image file is added to the guidance message MG1b. This is different from the print image selection menu MN1. The other points are the same as the print image selection menu MN1 of the first embodiment.

  When the user operates the right button 522 or the left button 524 while the print image selection menu MN1b is displayed, the selection images indicated by the thick frames are sequentially changed. On the other hand, when the user operates the “OK” button 532 or the up button 526, operation state information of these buttons 526 and 532 is supplied to the print processing execution unit 130 via the operation panel control unit 140. In the example of FIG. 12A, the upper button 526 indicated by hatching is operated. Therefore, an instruction to extract an image file is given as a user instruction.

  In step S112 in FIG. 11, the print processing execution unit 130 determines whether the user instruction given during the display of the print image selection menu MN1b is an instruction to extract an image file. If the user instruction is an instruction to extract an image file, control is transferred to step S114. On the other hand, if the user instruction is not an instruction to extract an image file, that is, if the user instruction is an instruction to set the selected image as a print image, the control proceeds to step S120.

  In step S114, the image file extraction unit 180 (FIG. 10) evaluates the image quality adjustment effect for the plurality of image files GF stored in the memory card MC by the functions of the automatic image quality adjustment unit 150 and the image quality adjustment effect evaluation unit 160. The value V is calculated.

  In step S116, the image file extraction unit 180 extracts an image file whose image quality adjustment effect evaluation value V is lower than a predetermined value. An image having a low image quality adjustment effect evaluation value V means that the image quality parameter characterizing the image quality of the image is close to the target image quality parameter. Therefore, an image with a low image quality adjustment effect evaluation value V can be determined to be a more preferable image than an image with a high image quality adjustment effect evaluation value V.

  In step S118, a print image selection menu for selecting a print image from the extracted image file is displayed. Then, a print image selection instruction given by the user using the operation buttons 522 to 534 is acquired.

  FIG. 12B shows a print image selection menu MN3 displayed on the liquid crystal display 510 (FIG. 3) in step S118. The print image selection menu MN3 shown in FIG. 12B is different from the print image selection menu shown in FIG. 12A in that the displayed image is different and the item “best shot” is omitted. It is different from the menu MN1b. The other points are the same as the print image selection menu MN1b shown in FIG.

  As described above, by extracting the image file based on the image quality adjustment effect evaluation value V, the print image selection menu MN3 in FIG. DD4 is not displayed. On the other hand, the print image selection menu MN3 displays five images DD2, DD3, DD5, DD7, and DD8 that do not require much correction by extracting an image file having a low image quality adjustment effect evaluation value V.

  As described above, according to the third embodiment, the image quality adjustment effect evaluation value V is calculated for the plurality of image files GF by using the functions of the automatic image quality adjustment unit 150 and the image quality adjustment effect evaluation unit 160. Then, by extracting an image file based on the calculated image quality adjustment effect evaluation value V, it is possible to select a print image from preferable images that do not require much correction. This makes it easier for the user to select a print image.

  In the third embodiment, image files are extracted from a plurality of image files GF based on the image quality adjustment effect evaluation value V, but individual images of the plurality of image files GF are based on the image quality adjustment effect evaluation value V. The file may be classified. That is, an evaluation value corresponding to the image quality adjustment effect evaluation value V may be given to each image file of the plurality of image files GF. In this case, for example, an appropriate number of ranks are set for each image file in the same manner as the image quality adjustment rank. Note that image file extraction can also be regarded as classifying a plurality of image files GF into extracted image files and non-extracted image files.

D. Automatic image quality adjustment:
FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the automatic image quality adjustment unit 150. The automatic image quality adjustment unit 150 includes a reference parameter setting unit 152, an image data analysis unit 154, a correction parameter setting unit 156, and a correction processing unit 158.

  The reference parameter setting unit 152 sets a target image quality parameter SP (reference parameter) based on the attached information IA included in the image file GF (FIG. 2). Specifically, the reference parameter SP is set by setting a standard value for each image quality parameter and changing the standard value according to the shooting mode. The reference parameter SP set by the reference parameter setting unit 152 is supplied to the correction parameter setting unit 156.

  FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the relationship between the shooting mode and the change amount of the image quality parameter. FIG. 14 shows how the image quality parameters of contrast, brightness, color balance, saturation, and sharpness are changed with respect to the shooting mode. For example, regarding the brightness, when the shooting mode is “person”, “flower”, or “commemorative shooting”, the reference parameter SP, that is, the target luminance value Yref is set so that the image after image quality adjustment becomes “slightly bright”. The standard value is changed from 128 to 144. On the other hand, when the shooting mode is “evening scene” or “night scene”, the reference parameter SP is changed to 96 so that the image after the image quality adjustment is “dark”. Further, for example, regarding the contrast, when the photographing mode is “person”, “flower”, or “backlight”, the reference parameter SP, that is, the target standard deviation σref, is such that the image after image quality adjustment is “slightly soft”. In addition, the standard value is changed from 56 to 48. On the other hand, when the shooting mode is “landscape”, the reference parameter SP is changed to 64 so that the image after image quality adjustment is “slightly hard”. As for color balance, saturation and sharpness, the standard of color balance bias, saturation distribution of image data, frequency and edge intensity distribution of image data calculated from the histogram of RGB components of image data, respectively. The reference parameter SP is set by changing the value. The reference parameter SP is set for the shadow level, highlight level, gamma characteristic, etc. in addition to the image quality parameter described above.

  The setting of the reference parameter SP is not limited to the shooting mode, and can be performed based on other information included in the attached information IA. For example, it is also possible to set the reference parameter SP based on the F value at the time of shooting and the focal length. In this case, when the F value at the time of shooting is equal to or less than a predetermined value and the focal length corresponds to the focal length of the medium telephoto lens, it is determined that the person is taken and the shooting mode is set as “person”. Similarly, the reference parameter may be changed.

  The image data analysis unit 154 calculates the image quality parameter SV (individual parameter) of the print image by analyzing the wRGB image data GDa generated from the image data GD in the image file GF (FIG. 2). Then, the calculated individual parameter SV is supplied to the correction parameter setting unit 156. The image data analysis unit 154 also generates memory color correction information EV used for memory color correction and supplies it to the correction parameter setting unit 156. Here, the memory color correction is generally performed by extracting a corresponding image area from the image data for “skin color”, “green”, “sky blue”, “sunset red”, etc., which are called memory colors. This is a correction to make the color of the area a color that is considered preferable.

  The correction parameter setting unit 156 sets the correction parameter AP based on the reference parameter SP supplied from the reference parameter setting unit 152 and the individual parameter SV supplied from the image data analysis unit 154. As described above, the difference between the target brightness value Yref and the brightness average value Yave is set in the brightness correction parameter ΔB that is the brightness correction parameter AP. The contrast correction parameter ΔC, which is the contrast correction parameter AP, is set to the difference between the target standard deviation σref and the luminance standard deviation σac. For the color balance, saturation, sharpness, and other image quality parameters, the correction parameter AP is set so that the corresponding image quality parameter becomes the reference parameter SP.

  The correction parameter setting unit 156 also sets parameters for memory color correction based on the memory color correction information EV supplied from the image data analysis unit 154. For example, when the shooting mode is “person” or “commemorative shooting”, the correction parameter setting unit 156, based on the memory color correction information EV, the memory color area specifying parameter for specifying the skin color image area and the color of the image area Set correction parameters.

  The correction processing unit 158 performs correction processing on the wRGB image data GDa based on the correction parameter AP supplied from the correction parameter setting unit 156, and generates corrected wRGB image data GDb. In the correction processing unit 158, the brightness and contrast are corrected using tone curves set according to the correction parameters ΔB and ΔC. Further, other image quality parameters are appropriately corrected for each image quality parameter. For example, the shadow level and the highlight level are corrected by a process of expanding / contracting the histogram. Sharpness is corrected using an unsharp mask whose application amount is set according to a sharpness correction parameter. Since the correction processing unit 158 performs specific image processing for image quality adjustment, it can also be called a “specific image processing execution unit”.

  FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram illustrating how brightness and contrast are corrected using a tone curve. FIG. 15A shows a tone curve (brightness correction tone curve) for correcting brightness, and FIG. 15B shows a tone curve (contrast correction tone curve) for correcting contrast. . In FIG. 15A and FIG. 15B, the horizontal axis represents the input gradation value, and the vertical axis represents the output gradation value.

  In the brightness correction tone curve shown in FIG. 15A, the brightness is corrected by changing the output tone value for the input tone value 128 in accordance with the brightness correction parameter ΔB. Specifically, when the correction parameter ΔB is a positive value, the tone curve is set so that the output gradation value with respect to the input gradation value 128 is higher than 128, as indicated by a dashed line. On the other hand, when the correction parameter ΔB is a negative value, the tone curve is set so that the output gradation value with respect to the input gradation value 128 is lower than 128 as indicated by a two-dot chain line. Therefore, by performing correction using these tone curves, the corrected image becomes bright when the correction parameter ΔB is positive, and the corrected image becomes dark when the correction parameter ΔB is negative. . Further, these tone curves are set so as to move away from the tone curve when the correction indicated by the solid line is not performed as the absolute value | ΔB | of the correction parameter ΔB increases. Therefore, the brightness correction amount increases as the absolute value | ΔB | of the correction parameter increases.

  In the contrast correction tone curve shown in FIG. 15B, the contrast brightness is corrected by changing the output gradation value for the input gradation values 64 and 192 in accordance with the contrast correction parameter ΔC. Specifically, when the correction parameter ΔC is a positive value, the tone curve has an output tone value corresponding to the input tone value 64 that is lower than 64 and an output tone value corresponding to the input tone value 192, as indicated by a dashed line. The value is set to be higher than 192. On the other hand, when the correction parameter ΔC is a negative value, the tone curve has an output tone value with respect to the input tone value 64 higher than 64 and an output tone value with respect to the input tone value 192, as shown by a two-dot chain line. It is set to be lower than 192. Therefore, by performing correction using these tone curves, when the correction parameter ΔC is a positive value, the contrast of the image after correction becomes high, and when the correction parameter ΔC is a negative value, the image of the image after correction is corrected. The contrast is lowered. Further, these tone curves are set so as to move away from the tone curve when the correction indicated by the solid line is not performed as the absolute value | ΔC | of the correction parameter ΔC increases. Therefore, the contrast correction amount increases as the absolute value | ΔC | of the correction parameter increases.

E. Evaluation of image quality adjustment effect and determination of adjustment effect rank:
E1. Calculation method of image quality adjustment effect evaluation value V and determination method of adjustment effect rank:
As described above, the image quality adjustment effect evaluation unit 160 (FIG. 3) calculates the image quality adjustment effect evaluation value V from the correction parameter as an evaluation index of the image quality adjustment effect. Specifically, the image quality adjustment effect evaluation unit 160 acquires the correction parameter AP from the correction parameter setting unit 156 (FIG. 13). Then, the absolute value of the correction parameter for each process is weighted, the sum of the weighted weight correction parameters is normalized, and an image quality adjustment effect evaluation value that takes a value within a predetermined range (for example, 0 to 255) V is calculated. In other words, the image quality adjustment effect evaluation value V is expressed as follows using each correction parameter Δi (i represents one of a plurality of correction parameters), a weighting coefficient Wi, and a normalization constant k. Calculated according to equation (4).

V = k × Σ (Wi × | Δi |) (4)

  In equation (4), the absolute value of the correction parameter Δi is used to calculate the image quality adjustment effect evaluation value V. However, the image quality adjustment effect evaluation value V increases as the absolute value of the correction parameter Δi increases. It may be calculated as follows. The image quality adjustment effect evaluation value V may be calculated according to the following formula (5), for example.

V = k × Σ (Wi × Δi ² ) (5)

  The weighting coefficient Wi of the correction parameter Δi is set according to the degree of contribution of the correction parameter to the image quality improvement effect. A weighting coefficient (for example, 1.5) higher than a normal weighting coefficient (for example, 1) is set for a correction parameter having a high contribution (for example, a lightness correction parameter ΔB, a correction parameter for gamma characteristics). For correction parameters that do not directly contribute to image quality (for example, memory color area designation parameters), the weighting coefficient 0 is set so that the value is not reflected in the image quality adjustment effect evaluation value V. Note that these weighting coefficients are appropriately set using various methods such as a sensory test in accordance with the correction parameter calculation method, the content of the correction process, and the like. For example, the weighting coefficient can be set so that the correlation between the image quality adjustment effect evaluation value V and the sensory test evaluation value (described later) becomes higher.

  The adjustment effect rank can be determined based on the distribution of the number of images with respect to the image quality adjustment effect evaluation value V when the image quality adjustment effect evaluation value V is calculated for a plurality of images. Specifically, the range of the image quality adjustment effect evaluation value V for each rank varies according to the calculation method of the image quality adjustment effect evaluation value V such as a sensory test so that the classification frequency into each rank does not cause a sense of incongruity. It is determined appropriately using a method.

E2. Sensory evaluation result of image quality adjustment effect evaluation value V and ranking:
FIG. 16A is a graph showing the relationship between the image quality adjustment effect evaluation value V and the sensory test result of the image quality improvement effect. In FIG. 16A, the horizontal axis represents the image quality adjustment effect evaluation value V, and the vertical axis represents the sensory test evaluation value of the image quality improvement effect.

  In the example of FIG. 16A, the image quality adjustment effect evaluation value V is calculated according to the above equation (4). The weighting coefficient is 1.5 for a correction parameter having a high degree of contribution to image quality improvement, 0 for a correction parameter that does not directly contribute to image quality improvement, and 1 for other correction parameters. Further, normalization and rounding processing are performed so that the image quality adjustment effect evaluation value V takes an integer value of 0 to 255.

The sensory test was performed by presenting 20 corrected images displayed on the liquid crystal display 510 (FIG. 3) to five subjects. Each subject classified the effect of improving the image quality into four levels 1 to 4 for each of the 20 images. And the average value of the level which the test subject gave about each image was made into the sensory test evaluation value of the image. The four levels representing the image quality improvement effect were set as follows. The effect of improving the image quality can be confirmed by observing only the corrected image based on the brightness distribution, the color cast state, and the like.
・ Level 1: Looks like it doesn't change.
・ Level 2: It has changed, but the image quality is not very good.
・ Level 3: Clearly changing.
Level 4: There is a change and the image quality is very good.

  As shown in FIG. 16A, the image quality adjustment effect evaluation value V and the sensory test evaluation value had a positive correlation. The multiple correlation coefficient was 0.8, and the image quality adjustment effect evaluation value V and the sensory test evaluation value had a strong correlation. That is, the larger the image quality adjustment effect evaluation value V, the higher the image quality improvement effect.

  FIG. 16B is an explanatory diagram illustrating a correspondence relationship in which the image quality adjustment effect evaluation value V is associated with the adjustment effect rank. As shown in FIG. 16A, the image quality adjustment effect evaluation value V decreases in frequency as the value increases. For this reason, the range of the adjustment effect rank is set wider as the image quality adjustment effect evaluation value V increases. In the example of FIG. 16B, the range of the rank 0 image quality adjustment effect evaluation value V is set to 0-19. Similarly, the range of rank 1 was set to 20 to 37, the range of rank 2 was set to 38 to 79, and the range of rank 3 was set to 80 to 255.

  FIG. 16C shows a ratio (classification frequency) of images classified into each rank when the rank range is determined as shown in FIG. The 3rd line of the table of Drawing 16 (c) shows classification frequency when 20 images used for a sensory test are classified into each rank. The fourth line of the table indicates the classification frequency when 200 images are classified into each rank. The classification frequency of 200 images showed the same tendency as the classification frequency of 20 images used in the sensory test, and it was found that a classification result without a sense of incongruity was obtained.

F. Variations:
In addition, this invention is not restricted to the said Example and embodiment, It can implement in a various aspect in the range which does not deviate from the summary, For example, the following deformation | transformation is also possible.

F1. Modification 1:
In each of the above embodiments, the display state of the rank bar RNB (FIG. 6) is determined based on the image quality adjustment effect evaluation value representing the effect of the automatic image quality adjustment processing. However, the display state of the rank bar RNB is the image quality adjustment. It is also possible to determine based on other conditions different from the effects. In general, the display state of the rank bar RNB can be determined according to the degree of image change (image quality change level) by image processing.

  For example, when the MFP MFP has a function of converting an image into a sepia color image or a monochrome image, when these conversion processes are performed, the number of bars displayed on the rank bar RNB is adjusted. As with the effect rank 3, three may be used. In addition, when the MFP MFP has a function of performing image deformation processing such as face modification processing, or when image deformation processing is performed, the number of bars displayed on the rank bar RNB is adjusted. As with the effect rank 3, three may be used. In these cases, the display state of the rank bar RNB may be set directly, and whether or not to execute these image processes so that the image quality adjustment effect evaluation value becomes a higher value when executing these image processes. This may be reflected in the calculation of the image quality adjustment effect evaluation value. Note that an image that has undergone these image processing and image quality adjustment processing is a corrected image, and therefore can be collectively referred to as a “corrected image”.

F2. Modification 2:
In each of the above embodiments, the effect of the automatic image quality adjustment processing is displayed by displaying the rank bar RNB. However, if the information indicating the effect of the automatic image quality adjustment processing can be displayed, the automatic image quality adjustment processing can be performed by other methods. It is also possible to display the effect of the adjustment process. For example, a character string representing an image quality adjustment effect evaluation value may be displayed.

F3. Modification 3:
In each of the above embodiments, the adjusted images DD1a and DD5a and the rank bar RNB are displayed at the same time on the preview screens PV1 and PV2 (FIG. 6), but the image displayed at the same time as the rank bar RNB is not necessarily adjusted. The images may not be the images DD1a and DD5a. Specifically, the image displayed simultaneously with the rank bar RNB may be a pre-adjustment image (input image) input to the automatic image quality adjustment unit 150. Even in this case, the rank bar RNB is displayed, so that the user can grasp the effect of the automatic image quality adjustment.

F4. Modification 4:
In each of the above embodiments, the present invention is applied to the MFP (FIG. 3). However, the present invention can be applied to any apparatus as long as it is an image processing apparatus capable of displaying an image. is there. The present invention can also be applied to, for example, a copying apparatus that does not have a scanner or printer function or an image processing apparatus using a personal computer.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram schematically showing a configuration of an image printing system 10 to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. Explanatory drawing which shows an example of the data format of the image file GF produced | generated by the digital still camera DSC. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a multifunction peripheral MFP. The flowchart which shows the image printing routine for printing an image. Explanatory drawing which shows the display state of the menu screen on a liquid crystal display. Explanatory drawing which shows the display state of a preview screen. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a multifunction peripheral MFPa in the second embodiment. 9 is a flowchart showing an image printing routine in the second embodiment. Explanatory drawing which shows the screen displayed on a liquid crystal display during execution of the image printing routine in 2nd Example. FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a multifunction peripheral MFPb in a third embodiment. 10 is a flowchart showing an image printing routine in the third embodiment. Explanatory drawing which shows a mode that a printing image is selected in 3rd Example. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an automatic image quality adjustment unit 150. Explanatory drawing which shows an example of the relationship between imaging | photography mode and the change amount of an image quality parameter. Explanatory drawing which shows the mode of the correction | amendment of the brightness and contrast using a tone curve. Explanatory drawing which shows the calculation result of the image quality adjustment effect evaluation value V, and the verification result of the ranking result.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Control part 110 ... Memory card control part 120 ... Scan process execution part 130 ... Print process execution part 140 ... Operation panel control part 150 ... Automatic image quality adjustment part 152 ... Standard parameter setting part 154 ... Image data analysis part 156 ... Correction parameter Setting unit 158 ... Correction processing unit 160 ... Image quality adjustment effect evaluation unit 170 ... Display image generation unit 180 ... Image file extraction unit 200 ... Memory card slot 300 ... Scan engine 400 ... Print engine 500 ... Operation panel 510 ... Liquid crystal display 522 -534 ... operation buttons CV ... cable DSC ... digital still camera MC ... memory card MFP, MFPa, MFPb ... MFP

Claims (7)

An image processing apparatus,
An image processing execution unit that performs predetermined image processing on the input image to generate a corrected image;
An image display control unit for displaying an image on the image display unit;
A processing effect evaluation unit that evaluates an image quality change level by the predetermined image processing performed in the image processing execution unit;
A processing effect display unit for displaying information representing the image quality change level evaluated by the processing effect evaluation unit on the image display unit simultaneously with the input image or the corrected image;
An image processing apparatus comprising: The image processing apparatus according to claim 1,
The display color space of the image display unit is a color space different from the color space of the corrected image,
The image display control unit outputs the corrected image to the image display unit without performing a color space conversion process for converting a color space of the corrected image into the display color space.
Image processing device. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:
A display image generation unit that generates a display image by performing the color space conversion process on the corrected image;
A display image generation instruction input unit that allows a user to input a display image generation instruction for generating the display image when information indicating the image quality change level is displayed;
With
The image processing device displays the display image on the image display unit when the display image generation instruction is input.
Image processing device. The image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The image processing execution unit
An automatic image quality adjustment unit that automatically adjusts the image quality of the input image based on the analysis result of the input image;
The processing effect evaluation unit determines the image quality change level based on a degree of image quality adjustment processing by the automatic image quality adjustment unit;
Image processing device. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4,
The automatic image quality adjustment unit
An image quality parameter calculation unit for calculating an image quality parameter representing the image quality of the input image by analyzing the input image;
A reference parameter setting unit for setting a reference parameter serving as a reference for the image quality parameter;
An image quality adjustment parameter setting unit for setting an image quality adjustment parameter based on the image quality parameter and the reference parameter;
A specific image processing execution unit that executes the image quality adjustment process according to the image quality adjustment parameter;
With
The processing effect evaluation unit evaluates the image quality change level based on the image quality adjustment parameter;
Image processing device. An image printing apparatus,
An image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
An image printing unit for outputting the corrected image generated by the image processing apparatus on a print medium;
An image printing apparatus comprising: An image processing method comprising:
(A) performing a predetermined image processing on the input image to generate a corrected image;
(B) a step of evaluating an image quality change level by the predetermined image processing performed in the step (a);
(C) simultaneously displaying information representing the image quality change level evaluated in the step (d) and the input image or the corrected image;
An image processing method comprising:

Images