Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and program

An imaging apparatus comprising:

• an imaging element;
• a pixel number reducing unit that generates a pixel number reduced image by reducing the total number of pixels of an image captured by the imaging element;
• an edge strength calculating unit that sets the pixel number reduced image as an input image and calculates edge strengths of a plurality of directions in a unit of a pixel block in which a correction object pixel selected from the input image serves as a center pixel;
• an interpolated-pixel value calculating unit that calculates interpolated-pixel values as smoothing components of the plurality of directions in the pixel block;
• a weight calculating unit that calculates weights for the interpolated-pixel values as the smoothing components of the plurality of directions based on the edge strengths of the plurality of directions calculated by the edge strength calculating unit;
• and
• a blending processing unit that calculates a pixel value of the correction object pixel which is the center pixel of the pixel block by performing a blending process by weighted addition of the interpolated-pixel values, which are the smoothing components of the plurality of directions, and the weights calculated by the weight calculating unit.

An image processing method of processing an image in an image processing apparatus, comprising:

• setting, by an edge strength calculating unit, a pixel number reduced image obtained by reducing the total number of pixels of an image captured by an imaging element as an input image and calculating edge strengths of a plurality of directions in a unit of a pixel block in which a correction object pixel selected from the input image serves as a center pixel;
• calculating, by an interpolated-pixel value calculating unit, interpolated-pixel values as smoothing components of the plurality of directions in the pixel block;
• calculating, by a weight calculating unit, weights for the interpolated-pixel values as the smoothing components of the plurality of directions based on the edge strengths of the plurality of directions calculated by the edge strength calculating unit;
• and
• calculating, by a blending processing unit, a pixel value of the correction object pixel which is the center pixel of the pixel block by performing a blending process by weighted addition of the interpolated-pixel values, which are the smoothing components of the plurality of directions, and the weights calculated by the weight calculating unit.

A program causing an image processing apparatus performing image processing to execute:

• setting, by an edge strength calculating unit, a pixel number reduced image obtained by reducing the total number of pixels of an image captured by an imaging element as an input image and calculating edge strengths of a plurality of directions in a unit of a pixel block in which a correction object pixel selected from the input image serves as a center pixel;
• calculating, by an interpolated-pixel value calculating unit, interpolated-pixel values as smoothing components of the plurality of directions in the pixel block;
• calculating, by a weight calculating unit, weights for the interpolated-pixel values as the smoothing components of the plurality of directions based on the edge strengths of the plurality of directions calculated by the edge strength calculating unit;
• and
• calculating, by a blending processing unit, a pixel value of the correction object pixel which is the center pixel of the pixel block by performing a blending process by weighted addition of the interpolated-pixel values, which are the smoothing components of the plurality of directions, and the weights calculated by the weight calculating unit.