Image processing apparatus and method

An image processing apparatus for selecting a depth information value dbest for a current fragment of a current digital image, the image processing apparatus comprising:

• memory configured to store a previously selected depth information value (dprev;
• dprevk), (dprev;
• dprevk) having been selected for a previously processed fragment;
• and
• signal processing logic configured to:
• calculate a similarity measure, MCurrent(di), for the current fragment based on a depth information value candidate di, di defining a reference fragment candidate of a digital reference image, wherein the similarity measure indicates a difference between a value of the current digital image at the current fragment and a value of the digital reference image at the reference fragment candidate;
• compare the depth information value candidate di with the previously selected depth information value (dprev;
• dprev,k);
• apply a weighting function to the calculated similarity measure to obtain a weighted similarity measure, Ccurrent(di) for the current fragment based on the comparison between the depth information value candidate di and the previously selected depth information value (dprev;
• dprev,k);
• and
• determine whether to select the depth information value candidate di as the depth information value dbest for the current fragment based on the weighted similarity measure of the depth information value candidate di.