Image processing apparatus that determines processing target area of an image based on degree of saliency, image processing method, and storage medium

An image processing method comprising:

• setting a search area based on spatial information of a subject, the spatial information being information of an area in which a subject in an image is predicted to be present;
• setting a first area inside the search area but not outside the search area;
• setting a second area outside the first area;
• calculating a first feature amount of the first area;
• calculating a second feature amount of the second area, the second feature amount being a feature amount of the same type as the first feature amount;
• and
• calculating a degree of visual saliency of the subject in the first area based on a difference between the first feature amount and the second feature amount,
• wherein in a case that a plurality of search areas are set, the first area and the second area are set and the degree of visual saliency is calculated in each of the search areas, and a processing target area is determined from the first areas of the plurality of search areas based on the calculated degree of visual saliency.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a computer-executable program for executing a method for controlling an image processing apparatus using the computer,

• the method comprising:
• setting a search area based on spatial information of a subject, the spatial information being information of an area in which a subject in an image is predicted to be present;
• setting a first area inside the search area but not outside the search area;
• setting a second area outside the first area;
• calculating a first feature amount of the first area;
• calculating a second feature amount of the second area, the second feature amount being a feature amount of the same type as the first feature amount;
• and
• calculating a degree of visual saliency of the subject in the first area based on a difference between the first feature amount and the second feature amount,
• wherein in a case that a plurality of search areas are set, the first area and the second area are set and the degree of visual saliency is calculated in each of the search areas, and a processing target area is determined from the first areas of the plurality of search areas based on the calculated degree of visual saliency.