Output image adjustment of image data

1. An image processing method of performing image processing using image data generated by an image generating device and image generating information that is associated with the image data and that includes at least aperture information and operation mode information at the time of generation of the image data, the method comprising:

adjusting sharpness of the image data based on the aperture information and the operation mode information included in the image generating information,

wherein the adjusting includes obtaining an aperture value used at the time of the image data generation from the aperture information, and determining whether or not the aperture value was set manually by a user, and wherein in case that it is determined that the aperture value was set manually and in case that the aperture value was set to a value in a prescribed range, strong sharpness adjustment is performed so that a degree of sharpness adjustment is higher than a value which would be taken in case that the aperture value were set under the standard photo-taking conditions of the image generating device.

2. An image processing method according to claim 1 , wherein the adjusting includes determining based on the operation mode information whether or not to carry out image quality adjustment to adjust the sharpness of the image data, and determining based on the aperture information a degree of sharpness adjustment to be performed in case that it is determined that the image quality adjustment is to be carried out.

3. An image processing method according to claim 1 , wherein adjusting includes determining based on the operation mode information whether or not an operation mode for the image generating unit at the time of the image data generation is portrait mode,

and the sharpness adjustment is not carried out in case that the operation mode is determined to be portrait mode.

4. An image processing method according to claim 1 , wherein the adjusting includes determining based on the operation mode information whether or not an operation mode for the image generating unit at the time of the image data generation is portrait mode,

and in case that the operation mode is determined to be portrait mode, weak sharpness adjustment is carried out where a degree of sharpness adjustment is lower than a value which would be taken in case that the aperture value were set under standard photo-taking conditions of the image generating unit.

5. An image processing method according to claim 1 , wherein the strong sharpness adjustment is carried out in case that the aperture value equals or exceeds a prescribed value.

6. An image processing method according to claim 1 , wherein the degree of sharpness adjustment performed during the strong sharpness adjustment increases as the aperture value increases.

7. An image processing method according to claim 1 , wherein the image generating information further includes information pertaining to a maximum possible aperture value of the image data generating unit that generated the image data, and the strong sharpness adjustment is performed in case that the aperture value is at the maximum possible aperture value.

8. An image processing device for performing image processing using image data generated by an image generating device and image generating information that is associated with the image data and that includes at least aperture information and operation mode information at the time of generation of the image data, the device comprising:

an image quality adjuster configured to adjust sharpness of the image data based on the aperture information and the operation mode information included in the image generating information,

wherein the image quality adjuster is further configured to obtain an aperture value used at the time of the image data generation from the aperture information, and to determine whether or not the aperture value was set manually by a user, and wherein in case that it is determined that the aperture value was set manually and in case that the aperture value was set to a value in a prescribed range, strong sharpness adjustment is performed so that a degree of sharpness adjustment is higher than a value which would be taken in case that the aperture value were set under the standard photo-taking conditions of the image generating device.

9. A computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon a computer-executable program or instructions for performing image processing using image data generated by an image generating device and image generating information that is associated with the image data and that includes at least aperture information and operation mode information at the time of generation of the image data, the computer-executable program or instructions comprising:

a program or instructions for causing a computer to adjust sharpness of the image data based on the aperture information and the operation mode information included in the image generating information, wherein the program or instructions further cause the computer to obtain an aperture value used at the time of the image data generation from the aperture information, and to determine whether or not the aperture value was set manually by a user, and wherein in case that it is determined that the aperture value was set manually and in case that the aperture value was set to a value in a prescribed range, strong sharpness adjustment is performed so that a degree of sharpness adjustment is higher than a value which would be taken in case that the aperture value were set under the standard photo-taking conditions of the image generating device.