Image processing device, computer-readable storage medium, and image processing method

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that stores therein an image processing program that contains instructions for causing a computer to perform:

• acquiring a reflected light image of an observed region and a fluorescent light image of the observed region, the reflected light image being obtained from light reflected from the observed region, and the fluorescent light image being obtained from fluorescent light that is generated by excitation light;
• detecting a variation component of the reflected light image;
• performing a correction process on a luminance value of the reflected light image taking the variation component into account;
• and
• performing a normalization process on a luminance value of the fluorescent light image using the luminance value of the reflected light image after the correction process;
• wherein the fluorescent light image is an image different from the reflected light image;
• and
• wherein the correction process sets higher the corrected luminance value of the reflected light image with an increase in the variation component, and sets lower the corrected luminance value of the reflected light image with a decrease in the variation component.

An image processing method, comprising:

• acquiring a reflected light image of an observed region and a fluorescent light image of the observed region, the reflected light image being obtained from light reflected from the observed region, and the fluorescent light image being obtained from fluorescent light that is generated by excitation light;
• detecting a variation component of the reflected light image;
• performing a correction process on a luminance value of the reflected light image taking the variation component into account;
• and
• performing a normalization process on a luminance value of the fluorescent light image using the luminance value of the reflected light image after the correction process;
• wherein the fluorescent light image is an image different from the reflected light image;
• and
• wherein the correction process sets higher the corrected luminance value of the reflected light image with an increase in the variation component, and sets lower the corrected luminance value of the reflected light image with a decrease in the variation component.