Color balance correction based on color cast attribute

1. An image processing apparatus for executing color balance correction of an image composed of multiple pixels comprising:

a representative value calculation unit that calculates, based on signal values of the pixels included in a skin tone area that includes pixels indicating human skin within the image, a representative value representing hue and chroma of the pixels included in the skin tone area; and

a correction processor that executes color balance correction of the image using execution correction amount set based on normal correction amount obtained by multiplying a difference between the representative value and an ideal value designated as a value representing ideal hue and chroma of human skin by a reduction coefficient,

wherein the value of the reduction coefficient is set such that the value of the reduction coefficient can vary in response to the representative value,

wherein the representative value and the ideal value are values indicating positions on a plane that represents hue and chroma, and the difference between the representative value and the ideal value is a value indicating distance between the representative value and the ideal value on the plane, and

wherein the reduction coefficient is set such that (i) the value thereof where the representative value is positioned at a first point on a first line traveling in a first direction from a position representing the ideal value on the plane is different from (ii) the value thereof where the representative value is positioned at a second point on a second line traveling in a second direction from the position representing the ideal value on the plane, a distance between the second point and the position representing the ideal value being equal to a distance between the first point and the position representing the ideal value.

2. An image processing method for executing color balance correction of an image composed of multiple pixels, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) calculating, based on signal values of the pixels included in a skin tone area that includes pixels indicating human skin within the image, a representative value representing hue and chroma of the pixels included in the skin tone area; and

(b) executing color balance correction of the image using execution correction amount set based on normal correction amount obtained by multiplying a difference between the representative value and an ideal value designated as a value representing ideal hue and chroma of human skin by a reduction coefficient,

wherein the value of the reduction coefficient is set such that the value of the reduction coefficient can vary in response to the representative value,

wherein the representative value and the ideal value are values indicating positions on a plane that represents hue and chroma, and the difference between the representative value and the ideal value is a value indicating distance between the representative value and the ideal value on the plane,

wherein the reduction coefficient is set such that (i) the value thereof where the representative value is positioned at a first point on a first line traveling in a first direction from a position representing the ideal value on the plane is different from (ii) the value thereof where the representative value is positioned at a second point on a second line traveling in a second direction from the position representing the ideal value on the plane, a distance between the second point and the position representing the ideal value being equal to a distance between the first point and the position representing the ideal value, and

wherein each of the steps of the image processing method for executing color balance correction of an image composed of multiple pixels is executed by a microprocessor.

3. A computer program product for executing color balance correction of an image composed of multiple pixels, the computer program product comprising:

a computer readable storage medium; and

a computer program stored on the computer readable storage medium, the computer program comprising:

a first program for calculating, based on signal values of the pixels included in a skin tone area that includes pixels indicating human skin within the image, a representative value representing hue and chroma of the pixels included in the skin tone area; and

a second program for executing color balance correction of the image using execution correction amount set based on normal correction amount obtained by multiplying a difference between the representative value and an ideal value designated as a value representing ideal hue and chroma of human skin by a reduction coefficient,

wherein the value of the reduction coefficient is set such that the value of the reduction coefficient can vary in response to the representative value,

wherein the representative value and the ideal value are values indicating positions on a plane that represents hue and chroma, and the difference between the representative value and the ideal value is a value indicating distance between the representative value and the ideal value on the plane, and

wherein the reduction coefficient is set such that (i) the value thereof where the representative value is positioned at a first point on a first line traveling in a first direction from a position representing the ideal value on the plane is different from (ii) the value thereof where the representative value is positioned at a second point on a second line traveling in a second direction from the position representing the ideal value on the plane, a distance between the second point and the position representing the ideal value being equal to a distance between the first point and the position representing the ideal value.