Image processing method and apparatus for red eye correction

An image processing apparatus for correcting red eye phenomenon in photographic image data. This apparatus includes a skin color pixel detecting portion (92a) for detecting a skin color pixel in the image data based on a predetermined skin color detection condition, a a white color pixel detecting portion (92b) for detecting a white color pixel in the image data based on a predetermined white color detection condition, a red color pixel detecting portion (92c) for detecting a red color pixel in the image data based on a predetermined red color detection condition, a red eye pixel determining section (95) for setting the detected red color pixel as a red eye pixel candidate and then determining the red eye pixel candidate as a red eye pixel according to a determination condition using the number of the skin color pixels and the number of the white color pixels detected respectively within an area around the red eye pixel candidate and a red eye correcting section (97) for correcting the red eye phenomenon by changing a pixel value of said determined red eye pixel.