Color balance correction based on color cast attribute

An image processing method for executing color balance correction of an image composed of multiple pixels, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) calculating, based on signal values of the pixels included in a skin tone area that includes pixels indicating human skin within the image, a representative value representing hue and chroma of the pixels included in the skin tone area;
• and
• (b) executing color balance correction of the image using execution correction amount set based on normal correction amount obtained by multiplying a difference between the representative value and an ideal value designated as a value representing ideal hue and chroma of human skin by a reduction coefficient,
• wherein the value of the reduction coefficient is set such that the value of the reduction coefficient can vary in response to the representative value.

A computer program product for executing color balance correction of an image composed of multiple pixels, the computer program product comprising:

• a computer readable medium;
• and
• a computer program stored on the computer readable medium, the computer program comprising:
• a first program for calculating, based on signal values of the pixels included in a skin tone area that includes pixels indicating human skin within the image, a representative value representing hue and chroma of the pixels included in the skin tone area;
• and
• a second program for executing color balance correction of the image using execution correction amount set based on normal correction amount obtained by multiplying a difference between the representative value and an ideal value designated as a value representing ideal hue and chroma of human skin by a reduction coefficient,
• wherein the value of the reduction coefficient is set such that the value of the reduction coefficient can vary in response to the representative value.