Patent ID: 7627148

Claim:
An image data processing apparatus comprising: particular image detection means for detecting whether or not a particular image exists in an image represented by given image data; a plurality of types of area partitioning means for respectively partitioning off, when the existence of particular image is detected by the particular image detection means, an area of the existing particular image by different types of partitioning processing; appropriateness calculation means for calculating, with respect to each of a plurality of partitioned areas respectively obtained by the plurality of types of area partitioning means, an appropriateness degree representing the degree to which the shape thereof is appropriate as a partitioning shape representing a contour of the particular image; and output means for outputting data representing the partitioned area for which the highest appropriateness degree is calculated on the basis of the plurality of appropriateness degrees calculated by the appropriateness calculation means, wherein the particular image is a face area.