Patent ID: 7643656

Claim:
A method of evaluating an image, comprising: (a) obtaining evaluation-image data of an evaluation image to be evaluated by a processor, the evaluation-image data including coordinate-position data indicative of coordinate positions in the evaluation image and optical-characteristic-value data indicative of optical characteristic values at respective coordinate positions; (b) identifying, based on the evaluation-image data, by a processor, a characteristic-value fluctuation which is a fluctuation of the optical characteristic values of the evaluation image in relation to the coordinate positions; (c) estimating, based on the evaluation-image data, by a processor, an unperceivable low-frequency-fluctuation component which is one component of the characteristic-value fluctuation and which is a component that cannot be perceived due to a considerably low frequency of the fluctuation, by forming, based on the evaluation-image data, at least one simulation function each of which simulates the unperceivable low-frequency fluctuation component and each of which uses a coordinate position as a variable; and (d) evaluating the evaluation image by a processor based on the characteristic-value fluctuation and the unperceivable low-frequency-fluctuation component.