Patent ID: 7693309
Filing Date: 2010-04-06
Classification: G06K,G06T

Abstract:
1. An image processing method, by which a cut-out area having a face area is processed from an original image including a human face, comprising: using an image processing apparatus to perform the steps of; a designation step of designating a rectangle that encloses the face area on the original image, the rectangle being smaller than the cut-out area; an alarm display step of displaying an alarm message in a case where it is discriminated that the cut-out area is larger in at least one dimension than the original image; a selection step of allowing a user to select either one of first and second modes in the displayed alarm message; a calculation step of calculating a reduction ratio so that an area of expression of the cut-out area is included in the original image and so that the designated rectangle is fitted into a noticeable area corresponding to the face area on output image data, if the first mode is selected by the user in the displayed alarm message; a correction step of executing a reduction correction to the cut-out area based on the calculated reduction ratio, while maintaining an aspect ratio of the cut-out area, if the first mode is selected by the user in the displayed alarm message; and a redoing step of allowing the user to change the original image or to re-designate the rectangle that encloses the face area in the designation step, if the second mode is selected by the user in the displayed alarm message.