Patent ID: 7612824

Claim:
An image processing method for performing image processing using image data generated by an image generation device, and image generation record information associated with the image data that includes light emission information of a supplemental light source at a time of generation of the image data and information relating to a distance between a subject of the image data and the image generation device of the image data at the time of generation of the image data, the method comprising: (i) deciding, based on the light emission information for the supplemental light source included in the image generation record information, whether to execute an image quality adjustment process; and (ii) if a positive decision is made, executing the image quality adjustment process to adjust the image data so as to reduce a maximum luminance value which is a largest possible luminance value the image data may have, wherein the deciding whether to execute the image quality adjustment process includes deciding, based on the light emission information of the supplemental light source included in the image generation record information, whether illumination was provided by the supplemental light source at the time of generation of the image data, the executing of the image quality adjustment process includes executing the image quality adjustment process if a judgment is made that (a) illumination was provided by the supplemental light source at the time of generation of the image data, the executing of the image quality adjustment process includes halting execution of the image quality adjustment process, or reducing a magnitude of luminance value adjustment in the image quality adjustment process, irrespective of a positive or negative result of the judgment (a), if a judgment is made that (b) the distance from the subject is not within a first near distance range, the image generation record information further includes information relating to quantity of light of the supplemental light source at the time of generation of the image data, and the executing of the image quality adjustment process includes adjusting the first near distance range to be a range nearer than a range in which the supplemental light source is capable of illuminating a subject with the quantity of light, based on at least the quantity of light.