Patent ID: 8284245

Claim:
An image processing apparatus comprising: a color balance adjustment tool including: a fluorescent light generating portion for emitting fluorescent light when radiated with excitation light; and an intensity variation correction value display portion for displaying an intensity variation correction value for correcting variation in intensity of fluorescent light emitted from the fluorescent light generating portion; an image signal input unit for inputting an image signal that includes: a fluorescent light image picked up by an image pickup unit when the excitation light is radiated to the color balance adjustment tool, and a reflection light image picked up by the image pickup unit when a light in a wavelength band different from that of the excitation light is radiated to the color balance adjustment tool; a control unit for calculating a coefficient value for changing a brightness value of the image signal based on the intensity variation correction value, a brightness value of the fluorescent light image, and a brightness value of the reflection light image; and a color balance process unit for performing color balance adjustment by changing the brightness value of the image signal using the coefficient value, wherein the control unit calculates the coefficient value using the mathematical expression: WBKR=WBAF /( WBR×WBCAF ) with WBKR being the coefficient value, WBAF being the brightness value of the fluorescent light image, WBR being the brightness value of the reflection light image, and WBCAF being the intensity variation correction value.