An image coloring/recoloring apparatus can provide natural-looking color images of an object illuminated by a source color. An input color image or a shaded image (grey scale image) which corresponds to the object is input to the coloring/recoloring apparatus. The coloring/recoloring apparatus logarithmically transforms a pixel sub-region corresponding to all or a portion of the object into intermediate color density data, which lies on a straight line in a color density space. This straight line starts at a point in the color density space corresponding to the source color and has a direction corresponding to the object's absorptive properties. By inputting a desired color and/or a new source color, it is possible to create a new image, which shows the object with the sub-region painted the desired color while being illuminated by the new source color.
Method and apparatus for coloring of recoloring of visual image