Image display apparatus and method, computer-readable recording medium on which the program is recorded, and photograph print order accepting apparatus

An image display method, comprising the steps of:

• detecting using an image analyzer to detect a main subject in images as a plurality of characteristics of said images;
• and
• classifying the images whose analysis result of the plurality of characteristics substantially satisfies a predetermined classification criterion, into on similar image group, and generating one or more similar image group;
• obtaining an evaluation value representing the desirability of an image using a predetermined evaluation criterion for each said image said in one or more similar image groups, wherein the predetermined evaluation criterion includes at least one of the characteristics representing the main subject which is detected by the classifying step;
• rearranging and displaying each image in said one or more similar image groups, wherein, for each similar image group that includes plural images, the display means displays the plural images in said similar image group in the order of the obtained evaluation value;
• selecting using an image selection means to select an image to be deleted and/or saved and/or printed from each of said one or more similar image groups having plural images displayed in the order of evaluation value,
• wherein the evaluation value is based on a plurality of evaluation criteria;
• and
• a means for setting a contribution rate of each of the plurality of evaluation criteria to the evaluation value, and the evaluation value obtaining means calculates the evaluation value according to the contribution rate set on each of the plurality of evaluation criteria.

A computer-readable recording medium storing a program including instructions that when executed, cause a computer to function as:

• an image analyzer means for detecting a main subject in images as a plurality of characteristics of said images;
• and
• a classifying means for classifying the images whose analysis result of the characteristic substantially satisfies a predetermined classification criterion, into on similar image group, and generating one or more similar image groups;
• an evaluation value obtaining means for obtaining an evaluation value representing the desirability of an image using a predetermined evaluation criterion for each said image in said one or more similar image groups, wherein the predetermined evaluation criterion includes at least one of the characteristics representing the main subject which is detected by the image analyzing means;
• a display control means for causing each of the images, wherein, for each similar image group that includes plural images, the display control means displays the plural images in said one or more similar image groups in the order of the obtained evaluation value;
• an image selection means for selecting an image to be deleted and/or saved and/or printed from each of said one or more similar image groups having plural images displayed in the order of evaluation value,
• wherein the evaluation value is based on a plurality of evaluation criteria;
• and
• a means for setting a contribution rate of each of the plurality of evaluation criteria to the evaluation value, and the evaluation value obtaining means calculates the evaluation value according to the contribution rate set on each of the plurality of evaluation criteria.