This arrangement of the invention makes intuitively comprehensible
image correction of RGB
color image data after conversion to HSI data in an intuitive HSI expression format, while ensuring no substantial change of the picture quality of a resulting
color image by correction. The technique of the invention analyzes an image consisting of sampling HSI data with regard to each of multiple memory colors, that is,
flesh color, green, and
sky blue, and sets
color correction areas as object correction ranges and correction rate curves in the
color correction areas in respective
hue ranges of the multiple memory colors, based on the results of the
image analysis. These settings are given in the form of a correction table. A correction
rate curve set for, for example, the
hue range of
flesh color in the correction table corrects original
hue data Horg of HSI data converted from RGB
color image data with a fixed correction rate Δ h in a substantial
color correction zone SkH2 to SkH3, while correcting the original hue data Horg of the HSI data with varying correction rates Δ h in a pre-zone SkH1 to SkH2 and in a post-zone SkH3 to SkH4 before and after the substantial color correction zone SkH2 to SkH3 in a preset color correction area SkH1 to SkH4. The correction
rate curve does not make any correction for the original hue data Horg of the HSI data out of the preset color correction area SkH1 to SkH4.