Image processing method, apparatus and program

An image processing method for processing a gray scale conversion of image data obtained by radiation photograph, comprising:

• a first calculation step of calculating a parameter for determining a gray scale conversion processing method from a photographic subject area of the image data, as a first feature amount;
• a second calculation step of calculating a parameter for determining the gray scale conversion processing method from a predetermined area of the image data, as a second feature amount;
• a selection step of selecting, based on a value of the first feature amount and a value of the second feature amount, either the value of the first feature amount or the value of the second feature amount;
• and
• a processing step of performing the gray scale conversion process on the image data, based on the selected value,
• wherein said selection step includes selecting the first or the second feature amount based on a difference value between the first feature amount and the second feature amount, and
• wherein said selection step includes selecting the first feature amount if the difference value is less than a predetermined value and selecting the second feature amount if the difference value is equal to or greater than the predetermined value.

An image processing method for processing a gray scale conversion of image data obtained by radiation photograph, comprising:

• a first calculation step of calculating a parameter for determining a gray scale conversion processing method from a photographic subject area of the image data, as a first feature amount;
• a second calculation step of calculating a parameter for determining the gray scale conversion processing method from a predetermined area of the image data, as a second feature amount;
• a selection step of selecting, based on a value of the first feature amount and a value of the second feature amount, either the value of the first feature amount or the value of the second feature amount;
• and
• a processing step of performing the gray scale conversion process on the image data, based on the selected value,
• wherein the photographic subject area is determined based on a passing through area and an area within a predetermined distance of the passing through area.

An image processing method for processing a gray scale conversion of image data obtained by radiation photograph, comprising:

• a first calculation step of calculating a parameter for determining a gray scale conversion processing method from a photographic subject area of the image data, as a first feature amount;
• a second calculation step of calculating a parameter for determining the gray scale conversion processing method from a predetermined area of the image data, as a second feature amount;
• a selection step of selecting, based on a value of the first feature amount and a value of the second feature amount, either the value of the first feature amount or the value of the second feature amount;
• and
• a processing step of performing the gray scale conversion process on the image data, based on the selected value,
• wherein the predetermined area is determined based on a position of a photo-timer provided on a radiation photography apparatus used for picking up the image data.

An image processing apparatus, comprising:

• a radiation generating apparatus for emitting radiation toward a photographic subject;
• a sensor for converting the radiation into two-dimensional image data;
• a photo-timer, disposed on said sensor, for controlling said radiation generating apparatus;
• a first calculation means for calculating a parameter for determining a gray scale conversion processing method from an area of the photographic subject of the image data, as a first feature amount;
• a second calculation means for calculating a parameter for determining the gray scale conversion processing method from a predetermined area of the image data defined based on the position of said photo-timer, as a second feature amount;
• a selection means for selecting, based on a value of the first feature amount and a value of the second feature amount, either the value of the first feature amount or the value of the second feature amount;
• and
• a processing means for performing the gray scale conversion process on the image data.