Patent ID: 7894674

Claim:
An image processing method, comprising the steps of: extracting an area of head hair from a digital image obtained by shooting a human face; extracting an area of a head-top portion based on the shape of the extracted area of head hair; and applying image processing, which enhances illumination effect on the head hair, to the digital image, by use of information on the extracted area of a head-top portion, wherein the step of extracting an area of a head-top portion includes: the step of obtaining the sum of black pixels, in a binary image that has black pixels only in the area of head hair, in each horizontal line in the vertical direction; the step of determining that a line position where the sum of black pixels drastically increases and a line position where the sum of black pixels drastically decreases are the position of the top of the head and the position of the boundary between the head hair and the forehead, respectively; and the step of obtaining the longitudinal range of the area of a head-top portion, based on the determined position of the top of the head and the determined position of the boundary between the head hair and the forehead.