Apparatus, method and computer program product for providing output image adjustment for image files

1. An image processing apparatus for performing image processing on image data, comprising:

an image data acquirer configured to acquire image data;

a color value range information acquirer configured to acquire a color value range information associated with the acquired image data, wherein the color value range information indicates color value range of the acquired image data in a predetermined color space; and

an image processor configured to implement image processing according to the acquired color value range information,

wherein said image processor performs the image processing including a color conversion of the acquired image data from the predetermined color space to a wider color space including the color value range designated by the color value range information when the wider color space is available, and

wherein said image processor performs image processing of said image data via a pre-established color space having a color value range corresponding to that of said predetermined color space when the wider color space is not available.

2. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:

said image data is defined in a first color space;

said image data acquirer includes a color space converter configured to convert the image data from said first color space to a second color space; and

said image processor converts the image data in said second color space to a third color space using said color value range information.

3. An image processing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein:

said color space converter converts the image data from said first color space to a second color space by performing a first matrix operation on image data in said first color space, and

said image processor converts the image data in said second color space to a third color space by performing a second matrix operation on image data in said second color space.

4. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:

said image data is produced to fall within a first color space and includes

first positive color values lying within a color value range of said predetermined color space,

second positive color values, and

negative color values lying outside the color value range of said predetermined color space; and

said image data acquirer includes

a color space converter configured to convert the color space of said image data from said first color space to a second color space by processing said first positive color values and at least one of said negative color values and said second positive color values.

5. An image processing apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein:

said image processor includes a gamma corrector configured to correct gamma information in said image data using a first gamma correction value when said image data contains said at least one of said first and said second positive color values, and using a second gamma correction value that is different from said first gamma correction value when said image data contains negative color values.

6. An image processing apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein:

said first color space is an RGB color space having a R component, a G component, and a B component; and

said second gamma correction value includes different component values for each of said R component, said G component, and said B component.

7. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the image data is still image data.

8. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the image data is motion video data.

9. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the wider color space is not available when the color value range information is not acquired.

10. An image data generating device that is separate from an image processing apparatus, comprising:

an image data generator configured to generate image data, wherein the image data includes first positive color values lying within a color value range of the predetermined color space, and at least one of second positive color values and negative color values lying outside the color value range of the predetermined color space;

a color value range information generator configured to generate color value range information, wherein the color value range information indicates color value range of the acquired image data in a predetermined color space; and

an image data output configured to output the image data associated with the color value range information.

11. An image data generating device according to claim 10 , wherein the image data is still image data.

12. An image data generating device according to claim 10 , wherein the image data is motion video data.

13. A method of image processing on image data, comprising:

acquiring image data;

acquiring a color value range information associated with the acquired image data, wherein the color value range information indicates color value range of the acquired image data in a predetermined color space; and

implementing image processing according to the acquired color value range information, wherein the image processing includes a color conversion of the acquired image data from the predetermined color space to a wider color space including the color value range designated by the color value range information,

wherein said image processing of said image data is implemented via a pre-established color space having a color value range corresponding to that of said predetermined color space when the wider color space is not available.

14. A method according to claim 13 , further comprising:

performing a first matrix operation on image data in said first color space; and

performing a second matrix operation on image data in said second color space.

15. A method of image processing according to claim 13 , wherein the image data is still image data.

16. A method of image processing according to claim 13 , wherein the image data is motion video data.

17. A method according to claim 13 , wherein the wider color space is not available when the color value range information is not acquired.

18. A computer program product comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium on which a computer program for performing image processing on image data is stored, the computer program including

program code for acquiring image data;

program code for acquiring a color value range information associated with the acquired image data, wherein the color value range information indicates color value range of the acquired image data in a predetermined color space; and

program code for implementing image processing according to the acquired color value range information, wherein the image processing includes a color conversion of the acquired image data from the predetermined color space to a wider color space including the color value range designated by the color value range information,

wherein said image processing of said image data is implemented via a pre-established color space having a color value range corresponding to that of said predetermined color space when the wider color space is not available.

19. A computer program product according to claim 18 , wherein the wider color space is not available when the color value range information is not acquired.

20. A method of generating image data implemented in an image generating device that is separate from an image processing apparatus, comprising:

generating image data, wherein the image data includes first positive color values lying within a color value range of the predetermined color space, and at least one of second positive color values and negative color values lying outside the color value range of the predetermined color space;

generating color value range information, wherein the color value range information indicates color value range of the acquired image data in a predetermined color space; and

outputting the image data associated with the color value range information.