Apparatus and a method for automatically detecting and reducing red-eye in a digital image

An automatic red-eye detection and reduction system, comprising:

• a red-eye detector that detects if an image contains a red pupil without user intervention, wherein the red-eye detector detects location and size of the red pupil if the image is detected to contain the red pupil, wherein the red-eye detector further comprises
• an eye detector that detects if the image contains an eye, wherein the eye detector determines the location, size, and orientation of the eye within the image if the image is detected to contain the eye;
• a red pupil detector coupled to the eye detector to determine if the eye contains the red pupil, wherein the red pupil detector determines the location and size of the red pupil within the eye if the eye is detected to contain the red pupil;
• a red-eye reduction system coupled to the red-eye detector to change each red color pixel within the red pupil into a predetermined color such that color of the red pupil can be detected and changed without user intervention.

An automatic red-eye detection and reduction system, comprising:

• a red-eye detector that detects if an image contains a red pupil without user intervention, wherein the red-eye detector detects location and size of the red pupil if the image is detected to contain the red pupil, wherein the red-eye detector further comprises
• a face detector that detects if the image contains a face, wherein the face detector determines the location, size, and orientation of the face if the image is detected to contain the face;
• an eye detector coupled to the face detect or to detect if the face contains an eye, wherein the eye detector determines the location, size, and orientation of the eye within the face if the face is detected to contain the eye;
• a red pupil detector coupled to the eye detector to determine if the eye contains the red pupil, wherein the red pupil detector determines the location and size of the red pupil within the eye if the eye is detected to contain the red pupil;
• a red-eye reduction system coupled to the red-eye detector to change each red color pixel within the red pupil into a predetermined color such that color of the red pupil can be detected and changed without user intervention.

A method for automatically detecting and reducing red-eye effect in a digital image, comprising:

• (A) detecting if an image contains a red pupil without user intervention, wherein the location and size of the red pupil is also determined if the image is detected to contain the red pupil, wherein the step (A) further comprises the steps of
• (I) detecting if the image contains a face and, if so, the location, size, and orientation of the face;
• (II) detecting if the face contains the red pupil and, if so, the location and size of the red pupil within the eye;
• (B) changing each red color pixel within the red pupil into a predetermined color such that color of the red pupil ca n be detected and changed without user intervention.

A method for automatically detecting and reducing red-eye effect in a digital image, comprising:

• (A) detecting if an image contains a red pupil without user intervention, wherein the location and size of the red pupil is also determined if the image is detected to contain the red pupil, wherein the step (A) further comprises the steps of
• (I) detecting if the image contains an eye and, if so, the location, size, and orientation of the eye within the image;
• (II) determining if the eye contains the red pupil and, if so, the location, size, and orientation of the red pupil within the eye;
• (B) changing each red color pixel within the red pupil into a predetermined color such that color of the red pupil can be detected and changed without user intervention.