Image processing method and apparatus

摘要

An image processing method according to an embodiment of the present invention has the following steps: the multi-viewpoint image input step for inputting images obtained from a plurality of viewpoint positions arranged on different straight lines, the detection step (2, 7, 17, 8) for detecting a viewpoint position and its view direction in which a user is seeing at the viewpoint position, and the image generation step (11, 12, 13, 8) for generating a virtual image viewed from the predetermined viewpoint by using the images input in the multi-viewpoint image input step on the basis of the detected predetermined viewpoint position and the view direction. In the image generation step, optimal corresponding points are obtained by detecting a straight line having a width on an epipolar plane image corresponding to the input images, thereby generating an image. <IMAGE>