Image processing method and image processing apparatus

An image processing method in an image processing apparatus for converting a gradation image into vector data, the method comprising:

• a color change direction detecting step of detecting color change directions of pixels in the gradation image;
• an intersection detecting step of detecting an intersection of direction vectors of the color change directions;
• a gradation type determining step of determining gradation type of the gradation image as radial gradation when the intersection of the direction vectors is detected;
• and
• a description step of describing the gradation image using a graphic language in accordance with the determined gradation type.

An image processing apparatus for converting a gradation image into vector data, the apparatus comprising:

• a color change direction detecting unit adapted to detect color change directions of pixels in the gradation image;
• a gradation type determining unit adapted to determine gradation types of the gradation image as linear gradation when the color change directions detected by the color change direction detecting unit agree with an identical direction;
• and
• a description unit adapted to describe the gradation image using a graphic language in accordance with the determined gradation type.

An image processing apparatus for converting a gradation image into vector data, the apparatus comprising:

• a color change direction detecting unit adapted to detect color change directions of pixels in the gradation image;
• an intersection detecting unit adapted to detect an intersection of direction vectors of the color change directions;
• a gradation type determining unit adapted to determine gradation type of the gradation image as radial gradation when the intersection of the direction vectors is detected by the intersection detecting unit;
• and
• a description unit adapted to describe the gradation image using a graphic language in accordance with the determined gradation type.