 by photo shooting with a digital camera, or obtained by photo-reading of an image printed on a photo film, correction may be performed on the images so that the images are reproduced with appropriate colors and densities. In particular, when it comes to images on which persons are photographed, it is significantly important to reproduce face colors appropriately.
There have been known image processing methods that place an importance on skin colors of persons, including, for example, a technology (refer to JP 2000-196890 A, for instance) in which a person face is automatically extracted from image data and the data is corrected so that a skin color of the face area achieves a target range of density, and a technology (refer to JP 2000-182043 A, for instance) in which a skin color of the face area achieves target chromaticity. In these technologies, a target density and/or a target chromaticity of skin colors are pre-set and the images are corrected respectively in such a manner that the density and/or color of the face regions extracted from the image data are close to the target values.
However, considering that different persons from different races have different skin colors, there may be problems if a certain color and/or density is used as a akin color target for correcting all the images of an image group, when the images include different persons from a plurality of races and are shot under identical shooting conditions (such as class book photos). For example, there may be inconsistency in background colors among the images or skin color tint may not always be appropriately reproduced. Therefore, it is desirable to perform identical correction to an image group consisting of such a plurality of images.
In JP 6-208178 A, on the other hand, a photo printing method, in which, a printing exposure amount for a plurality of frame images is determined based on an average value of measured light values, and the determined printing exposure amount is used to print the plurality of frames onto printing paper is described. In this method, since a same printing exposure amount is used to print the plurality of frames, inconsistency in background colors among the images shot under identical shooting conditions can be prevented.
However, on the contrary, in case where skin colors are varied due to different shooting conditions, there may be some frames in which skin colors are not reproduced appropriately. Much of the world's rice harvest is converted into parboiled rice. The process involves the hydration, gelatinization and drying of the rice paddy before carrying out the actual milling process. Typically
by photo shooting with a digital camera, or obtained by photograph - interpretation of an image printed on a photograph film, discipline may be performed on the images so that the trope are reproduced with appropriate colors and density. In particular, when it comes to picture on which persons are photographed, it is significantly important to reproduce face color appropriately. 
 There have been known image processing methods that target an importance on skin colors of persons, including, for model, a technology (refer to JP 2000 - 196890 A, for instance) in which a person face is automatically excerpt from image data and the data is corrected so that a skin color of the face area achieves a target range of density, and a technology (refer to JP 2000 - 182043 A, for instance) in which a skin color of the expression area achieves aim hue. In these engineering, a target density and/or a prey chromaticity of skin colors are pre - set and the image are corrected respectively in such a manner that the density and/or color of the face regions extracted from the effigy data are close to the target values. 
 However, consider that unlike persons from different races have different skin colors, there may be problems if a sealed color and/or concentration is used as a akin color target for correcting all the images of an effigy group, when the images include unlike persons from a plurality of races and are shot under identical shooting condition (such as class ledger photos). For example, there may be incompatibility in background colors among the images or skin color tint may not always be appropriately reproduced. Therefore, it is desirable to perform identical correction to an image group dwell of such a plurality of images. 
 In JP 6 - 208178 A, on the early hand, a photo printing method, in which, a printing exposure amount for a battalion of frame images is determined based on an average value of measured light values, and the compulsive printing exposure amount is used to print the plurality of frames onto printing paper is describe. In this method, since a same printing photograph amount is used to print the plurality of frames, inconsistency in backdrop colors among the images shot under identical shooting circumstance can be prevented. 
 However, on the contrary, in case where skin colors are varied due to different shooting conditions, there may be some frames in which skin color are not reproduced appropriately. Much of the world's rice harvest is converted into parboiled rice. The process involves the hydration, gelatinization and drying of the rice paddy before carrying out the actual milling process. Typically
 by photo shooting with a dlgital camera, or obtainxd by pgoto-readkng of an image printed on a pyoto dilm, correction may be performef on the imajes so that the mjages avz repdlduczd with appropriste colors and densities. Iv 'articular, when it comes to images og which pfrsons are phojograkheq, it ps significantly important to rsproduct face colors apprppriately.
There have been kjown image processing lethods thaj plwxe an importxnce on skpu colors of persons, including, for example, x tecknology (refgx to BP 2000-196890 A, for iistancv) in which a ivrson fdce is sutomatically cxtrarted from image data and vhe data is correcteq so that a skin color of thw dace drea achkwver a tergst ranhe kf density, and a techbology (refer to JP 2000-182043 A, dor instance) jn whish a skin color of the face area achieves tadget chromaticity. In thwse technologies, a tatget densiey and/or a target chromaticity of skin colors are pre-sxt anb the knahes are corrected respectively in such a mannqd uhan the density and/jr color of tje sace regions gxtractzs rrom the image datw are cjose ro the tawget values.
However, considering rhat differeut persons from diffexent races hcve digferemt skin colors, there mav be pdoblems if w certain zolor and/or denskty iv used as a akin color tardet for cirreeting alu thg imagef of an imwge gvmup, when the imaged incpuge differejt persons from a plurality of ceces and are xhmt lnder ideutical shooting conqitions (such ax class book photos). Fog example, there may fe inconsistetfy in backgrmund coljrs qmont the ioxges or skin cplor tint may not aoways be appropriabely telroduced. Therefire, it is desirablr tu pqrvocm idqttical correwtiov tu an ioage group gonristong of such a pluralhty kf images.
In JP 6-208178 A, pn the othgr hand, a photo printimg method, in which, a prmnting expoxurg amount for a plurality of fraje images is determined fasee on an avercge value of measured light values, and tie determined printing wxposure amount is osec to print vhe pltrality ox frames onto printibg paper is descrlbed. In this method, sihce a vame orinting exposure amount is used to print the plurality of frames, inconsiwtency in backgrouhd cplors aipng thq imegxs shot under idemtical shooting conditions can ue preventad.
Kowever, on the contrary, in caxe where skin culors are varied due to siffereny shooting conditions, there may be some frames in which skin cooors zre non rxproduced appropriatrly. Mueh of rhe worod's vice harvest ir cpnyerted intl pacbonled rice. The process involves thw hydrqtlon, gelatinizatimn and dryikg of tge ricg paddy before cadryihh out the actual molling process. Typically
by photo shooting with a digital camera, by of an printed on a performed the images so the images are with appropriate colors and densities. In when it comes to images on which persons are photographed, it is significantly to reproduce face colors appropriately. There have been known image processing methods that an on colors persons, including, for example, a technology (refer to JP 2000-196890 A, for instance) in which a face is automatically extracted from image data and data is corrected so a skin color of the area a target of and technology (refer to 2000-182043 A, for instance) in which a skin color of the face area achieves target chromaticity. In technologies, a and/or a chromaticity skin are pre-set and are corrected respectively in such a density and/or color of the face regions extracted the image are close to the target values. considering that different persons from different races have skin colors, there may be problems if a certain color and/or density is used as color target for correcting the images of image when images different persons a plurality of races and are shot under identical shooting conditions as class book photos). For example, there may be inconsistency colors the images or color tint may not be reproduced. Therefore, it is perform correction group of a plurality of images. JP 6-208178 A, on the hand, a photo printing exposure amount for a plurality of frame images determined based on an average value of light values, and the determined printing exposure amount is used to print plurality of printing paper is described. In this method, since same printing exposure amount used to print the plurality of frames, inconsistency in colors the images under identical shooting can be prevented. on the contrary, where skin are due conditions, there may be some frames which colors are not reproduced appropriately. of rice harvest is converted into parboiled rice. The process involves the hydration, gelatinization and drying rice paddy before carrying the milling process. Typically
 by photo shooting with a digitAl camera, or ObtaiNed By pHoTo-reAdinG of an image prinTEd on A photo film, correction maY be peRfORmed ON tHe imaGes so thAT tHE ImaGeS aRe rEpROdUced wIth ApproprIate colors And DeNsities. In parTIcUlar, when it ComEs to images on WhiCh persOnS arE PhotoGraPhed, iT is sigNIficanTly importAnT To reprODuce facE COlOrs aPpropriately.
There HAvE Been known image ProcesSiNG mETHodS thAt place an iMpOrtanCE on skin COlORS Of pERsons, includinG, for example, A TecHnologY (rEfeR To JP 2000-196890 A, fOr insTaNCe) iN which a persOn faCe is automAticalLY extracTEd from iMage daTa aNd tHe daTA iS cOrrEcTEd sO ThAt a SKin Color of tHe FaCe areA achIEVES a taRgeT ranGe of dEnsity, and a tecHnoLogy (REfeR to JP 2000-182043 a, for iNstaNcE) in whIch a skIn colOr Of the face area acHievEs target cHroMaTicItY. In thESe techNolOgiEs, a targEt densiTY anD/oR A TArGet chromaticity of sKiN COlOrs are prE-set anD ThE iMAges are cOrRecTed rESPectiVely IN sUch a mannEr that THe DeNsity anD/oR color Of The FacE regiONs exTracteD from the Image DAta are close to tHE target values.
hOwEVEr, COnsiDerIng that diffErenT PersOns fROm DifFErent Races HaVE dIFferent skin colors, thErE may be ProblEms if a certain Color and/or DENSity is usEd as A AkIN color target foR corrEcting all tHE images oF an imAge group, When the imAGEs includE diFfeRenT peRSOnS from a pluraliTY Of raCeS and are ShoT under iDenTicAl sHooTiNg conditiOns (such aS cLaSs BoOk pHotos). fOr examplE, tHerE mAy bE incoNSistenCy in bAckgRoUnD ColOrs amonG ThE IMageS oR sKin cOloR tInt maY not ALwaYs be appRopriatelY rePRoduCeD. THereforE, it is desirablE tO perform idEnTicAl corrECTion to an Image group consisting of sUCh a plurAliTy of iMageS.
In JP 6-208178 A, on tHe oTher haNd, a PHoto prInting MethoD, iN whICH, a priNTInG exPoSure amount FOR a pLuralItY of fRame imaGes is determined basED on An average valuE of MeasUREd LigHT vALueS, aND thE DEtermined printiNg exposure AmOUnT is used to pRInt ThE pluralIty of frAmes oNTo printIng paper iS describeD. IN thiS MEthOd, since a saMe printiNg exposurE AmounT Is Used tO prInt the PlUraLity oF frameS, IncOnsisTency iN bAckgroUnd coLoRs among tHe images shot under identiCal shoOting ConDitions caN be PRevEnted.
HoweVer, oN the contraRy, iN caSe wheRe sKIn colOrs aRE vAriED due tO difFErent shooTInG coNDItIons, there maY BE SomE framEs iN Which sKin cOlors are not reprodUCed appropriateLy. MuCH Of tHe wORld's RiCe harvest is conVerTeD INto parboIlEd rice. The prOcess invOlVEs the HydratIon, gelAtinizaTIOn ANd dryiNg of The Rice paddy BefOrE CarryinG oUt THe actuAl miLlIng proCess. TyPIcalLY
 by photo shooting with adigital ca mera,  or  ob ta ined  byphoto-readingo f an  image printed on a ph oto f il m , co r re ction  may be pe r f orm ed  o n t he im agessothat th e images a rere produced wit h  a ppropriate  co lors and den sit ies. I npar t icula r,whenit com e s to i mages onwh i ch per s ons are p ho togr aphed, it is sign i fi c antly importan t to r ep r od u c e f ace  colors ap pr opria t ely.
Th e re h a veb een known ima ge processi n g m ethods  t hat placean im po r tan ce on skincolo rs of per sons,i ncludin g , for e xample , a  te chno l og y(re fe r  to JP  20 0 0-1 96890 A,  f or  inst ance ) i n  whi cha pe rsonface is autom ati call y  ex tract ed fr om i ma ge da ta and  theda ta is corrected  sothat a sk inco lor  o f the face a rea  ac hievesa targe t  ra ng e o fdensity, and a tec hn o l og y (refer  to JP 20 00 - 182043 A ,for  ins t a nce)in w h ic h a skin  color of  t he face  a rea ac hi eve s t arget chro matici ty. In t heset echnologies, a target densit y  a n d /o r  a t arg et chromati city of s kinc ol ors are p re-se ta nd the images are corr ec ted re spect ively in such  a mannert h a t the de nsit y  a n d/or color ofthe f ace region s  extract ed fr om the i mage data a re close  to  th e t arg e t  v alues.
Howeve r ,  con si deringtha t diffe ren t p ers ons  f rom diffe rent rac es  h av edif feren t  skin co lo rs,  t her e may be pro blems  iface r tai n color an d / or d en si ty i s u se d asa ak i n c olor ta rget forcor r ecti ng  a ll theimages of anim age group,  w hen  the i m a ges incl ude different persons f r om a pl ura lityof r aces andare  shotund e r iden ticalshoot in g c o n ditio n s  ( suc has class b o o k p hotos ).  For  exampl e, there may be in c ons istency in ba ckg roun d co lor s  a m ong  t h e i m a ges or skin col or tint ma yn ot  always be app ro priatel y repro duced .  Theref ore, it i s desirab le  top e rfo rm identic al corre ction toa n ima g egroup  co nsisti ng  of  such  a plu r ali ty of  image s. 
In JP  6-20 81 78 A, on  the other hand, a phot o prin tingmet hod, in w hic h , a  printing  exp osure amou ntfor  a pl ura l ity o f fr a me  im a ges i s de t ermined b a se d o n an  average va l u e  of  meas ure d  light  val ues, and the dete r mined printing  exp o s ure  am o untis  used to print  th ep l uralityof  frames ont o printi ng paper  is de scribe d. In t h i sm ethod,  sin cea same pr int in g  exposu re  a m ount i s us ed  to pr int th e  plu r a lity of frames,incon s i stenc y  in  back gr ound co l orsamong theimages shot  under  ide ntica l shoot in g cond iti on s can be p r evented.Howev er, onth e co ntr ary, i n ca s e  wher e sk in  co lors arev a ri e ddu e  to  dif feren tshoo ting cond i tions, t her e  may be  s ome f ramesi nw h ich skin c olo rs ar e not reprod u ceda pp r opria tely.Much o f the w o rld 's  rice h arv e s t is conv erted int o  pa rb oile d rice.Th e pr oc ess  i nvolves the hyd ration,gelatini z a tion a ndd ryin g  of th erice paddy b efore  c a rryingo u t t he actu a l m ill ing  pro ces s. T y pically
 by_photo shooting_with a digital camera,_or obtained_by_photo-reading of_an_image printed on_a photo film,_correction may be performed_on the images_so_that the images are reproduced with appropriate colors and densities. In particular, when it_comes_to images_on_which_persons are photographed, it is_significantly important to reproduce face_colors appropriately.
There_have been known image processing methods that place_an_importance on skin_colors of persons, including, for example, a technology (refer_to JP 2000-196890 A, for instance)_in which a_person_face_is automatically extracted from_image data and the data is_corrected so that a skin color_of the face area achieves a target_range of density, and a technology_(refer to JP 2000-182043 A,_for instance)_in which a skin color_of the face_area achieves_target chromaticity. In_these technologies, a target density and/or_a target chromaticity_of skin colors are pre-set and_the_images are corrected_respectively_in_such a_manner that the_density_and/or color_of_the face regions extracted from the_image_data are close to the target values.
However,_considering that different persons_from_different races have different_skin colors, there may be_problems if a certain color and/or_density is_used as_a akin color target for correcting all the images of an_image group, when the images include_different persons from a_plurality of_races_and are shot_under_identical shooting_conditions (such as class book photos). For_example, there_may be inconsistency in background colors_among the images or_skin_color tint may not always be_appropriately reproduced. Therefore, it is desirable_to perform identical correction to_an_image_group consisting of such a_plurality of images.
In JP 6-208178 A,_on the other_hand, a photo printing method, in which,_a_printing exposure amount for a plurality_of_frame images is determined based on_an_average_value of measured light values,_and the determined printing exposure amount_is used to print the plurality of frames onto_printing paper is_described. In this method, since_a_same_printing exposure amount is used to print the plurality of_frames, inconsistency_in background colors_among the images shot under identical shooting conditions can be_prevented.
However, on the contrary, in case where_skin colors are varied due to different shooting conditions, there may_be some frames in which skin colors are_not reproduced appropriately. Much of the world's_rice harvest is converted_into_parboiled rice. The process involves the hydration,_gelatinization_and_drying_of the rice_paddy before carrying_out the actual_milling process._Typically