Patent ID: 7340098

Claim:
A method for converting a first image into a second image, comprising: a first step of performing an image feature analysis with respect to the first image; a second step of obtaining a value of an illumination equation parameter corresponding to the image feature from an image feature of the first image obtained in the first step, as an original parameter value by referencing a relationship between image features and illumination equation parameters which are associated with each other by a preprocess; a third step of determining contents of an operation of an illumination equation parameter, depending on a prescribed image conversion; a fourth step of operating the original parameter value in accordance with the operation contents determined in the third step, to obtain a new parameter value; and a fifth step of generating the second image based on the new parameter value, wherein the preprocess comprises the steps of: setting a first parameter value as a value of an illumination equation parameter; automatically generating a learning image from the first parameter value; and performing an image feature analysis substantially equivalent to the first step, with respect to the learning image, and the obtained image feature is saved in association with the original parameter value into a database.