Image processing apparatus and image processing method

An image processing method of performing noise reduction processing on image data, the method comprising:

• a processing step of performing noise reduction processing on the image data;
• and
• an output step of outputting noise-reduced output image data based on a result of the processing step,
• wherein the processing step comprises determining a weight for a reference pixel based on a target area including a target pixel and a reference area including the reference pixel, the processing step comprises setting, as a pixel value of the target pixel on which processed noise reduction processing has been executed, a value calculated using reference pixels and a weight corresponding to each of the reference pixels, the size of the target area being equal to the size of the reference area, and
• the output step comprises outputting, as the pixel value of the target pixel after noise reduction processing, either a first value, which is calculated in a case when a first pixel group is set as the target area, or a second value, which is calculated in a case when a second pixel group different in the number of pixels from the first pixel group is set as the target area.

A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing a program that causes a computer to function as:

• a processing unit configured to perform noise reduction processing on the image data;
• and
• an output unit configured to output noise-reduced output image data based on a result of the processing performed by the processing unit,
• wherein the processing unit determines a weight for a reference pixel based on a target area including a target pixel and a reference area including the reference pixel, the processing unit sets, as a pixel value of the target pixel on which processed noise reduction processing has been executed, a value calculated using reference pixels and a weight corresponding to each of the reference pixels, the size of the target area being equal to the size of the reference area, and
• the output unit outputs, as the pixel value of the target pixel after noise reduction processing, either a first value, which is calculated in a case when a first pixel group is set as the target area, or a second value, which is calculated in a case when a second pixel group different in the number of pixels from the first pixel group is set as the target area.