Image processing apparatus and method, image capturing apparatus and storage medium

An image capturing apparatus comprising:

• an image processing apparatus comprising one or more processors and/or circuitry which function as:
• (1) an input unit that inputs image data;
• (2) an extraction unit that extracts a plurality of AC signals of a plurality of different frequency bands from the image data;
• (3) a generation unit that generates a first adjustment value for adjusting a positive component and a second adjustment value for attenuating a negative component of an amplitude of each of the AC signals of the respective frequency bands;
• (4) an adjustment unit that adjusts each of the plurality of AC signals using the first adjustment value and the second adjustment value;
• (5) a detection unit that detects a skin area from the image data;
• (6) a correction unit that corrects image data of the skin area using the plurality of AC signals which are adjusted by the adjustment unit;
• and (7) an output unit that outputs the corrected image data of the skin area;
• and
• an imaging unit that performs image shooting and outputs the image data,
• wherein the generation unit generates the first adjustment value such that the positive component of the amplitude of the AC signal of a first frequency band among the plurality of frequency bands is less attenuated than the positive component of the amplitude of the AC signal of a second frequency band which is lower than the first frequency band.

An image processing method comprising:

• inputting image data;
• extracting a plurality of AC signals of a plurality of different frequency bands from the image data;
• generating a first adjustment value for adjusting a positive component and a second adjustment value for attenuating a negative component of an amplitude of each of the AC signals of the respective frequency bands;
• adjusting the amplitude of each of the plurality of AC signals using the first adjustment value and the second adjustment value;
• detecting a skin area from the input data;
• correcting image data of the skin area using the plurality of AC signals which has been adjusted;
• and
• outputting the corrected image data of the skin area,
• wherein the first adjustment value is generated such that the positive component of the amplitude of the AC signal of a first frequency band among the plurality of frequency bands is less attenuated than the positive component of the amplitude of the AC signal of a second frequency band which is lower than the first frequency band.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, the storage medium storing a program that is executable by the computer, wherein the program includes program code for causing the computer to function as an image processing apparatus comprising:

• an input unit that inputs image data;
• an extraction unit that extracts a plurality of AC signals of a plurality of different frequency bands from the image data;
• a generation unit that generates a first adjustment value for adjusting a positive component and a second adjustment value for attenuating a negative component of an amplitude of each of the AC signals of the respective frequency bands;
• an adjustment unit that adjusts the amplitude of each of the plurality of AC signals using the first adjustment value and the second adjustment value;
• a detection unit that detects a skin area from the image data;
• a correction unit that corrects image data of the skin area using the plurality of AC signals which are adjusted by the adjustment unit;
• and
• an output unit that outputs the corrected image data of the skin area,
• wherein the generation unit generates the first adjustment value such that the positive component of the amplitude of the AC signal of a first frequency band among the plurality of frequency bands is less attenuated than the positive component of the amplitude of the AC signal of a second frequency band which is lower than the first frequency band.