Stereoscopic image processing methods and apparatus

An apparatus for processing a pair of images including a left eye image and a right eye image, each of said left and right eye images including image values of a first type, comprising:

• a disparity value generation module configured to generate a first overall disparity value indicating a first overall level of difference between values of said first type in said left eye image and values of said first type in said right eye image;
• a determination module configured to determine if said first overall disparity value is in a first difference range used to control performing of a first difference reduction operation, said first difference reduction operation being an operation on values of said first type included in at least one of said left eye image or said right eye image to reduce the overall difference between values of said first type in said left eye image and values of said first type in said right eye image;
• and
• a difference reduction operation module configured to perform said first difference reduction operation to reduce the first overall level of difference between values of said first type in said left eye image and values of said first type in said right eye image when said first overall disparity value is determined to be in said first difference range.

A non-transitory computer readable medium for use in an apparatus for processing a pair of images including a left eye image and a right eye image, each of said left and right eye images including image values of a first type, the non-transitory computer readable medium comprising:

• instructions which when executed by a processor cause said processor to generate a first overall disparity value indicating a first overall level of difference between values of said first type in said left eye image and values of said first type in said right eye image;
• instructions which when executed by said processor cause said processor to determine if said first overall disparity value is in a first difference range used to control performing of a first difference reduction operation, said first difference reduction operation being an operation on values of said first type included in at least one of said left eye image or said right eye image to reduce the overall difference between values of said first type in said left eye image and values of said first type in said right eye image;
• and
• instructions which when executed by said processor cause said processor to perform the first difference reduction operation to reduce the first overall level of difference between values of said first type in said left eye image and values of said first type in said right eye image when said first overall disparity value is determined to be in said first difference range.