Patent ID: 7327391

Claim:
An image processing method, comprising the steps of: providing image data generated by an image generating device, and image generation record information associated with the image data, the image generation record information including at least operating information about the image generating device at the time of generation of the image data; and when the image generation record information includes subject brightness information relating to brightness of a subject at the time of generation of the image data, adjusting picture quality of the image data using a subject brightness level derived from the subject brightness information, wherein the image generation record information further includes supplemental light source firing information at the time of generation of the image data, and information relating to a distance between the subject of the image data and the image generating device at the time of generation of the image data, and wherein the picture quality adjustment step includes a step of performing the picture quality adjustment processing suitable for a portrait image when it is determined that the supplemental light source provided illumination based on the firing information, and that the distance from the subject is shorter than a predetermined distance threshold value, and that the subject brightness level is above a predetermined brightness threshold value.