IMAGE PROCESSING UNIT, IMAGE OUTPUT DEVICE, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD AND STORAGE MEDIUM

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processing unit that can properly correct the lightness of a major object of an image photographed in an improper exposure state with an optimum effect without causing deformation of the gradation and a deviated hue of a background. SOLUTION: A control area extract means 21 extracts an object area where deformed gradation is conspicuous when gradation correction is applied to received image data, a gradation correction regulation means 22 uses information of the extracted control area to update a gradation correction curve and regulates the gradation correction by using the information of the area where the deformed gradation is conspicuous by correction so as to carry out gradation correction without causing deformed gradation.