An image processing apparatus includes: a depth information extraction means for extracting depth information from an input 3D image; a luminance extraction means for extracting luminance components of the 3D image; a contrast extraction means for extracting contrast components of the 3D image based on the luminance components; a storage means for storing a performance function indicating relation between the contrast components and depth amounts subjectively perceived, which is determined based on visual sense characteristics of human beings; and a contrast adjustment means for calculating present depth amounts of the inputted 3D image from the contrast components based on the performance function with respect to at least one of a near side region and a deep side region of the inputted 3D image which are determined from the depth information and adjusting contrast components of the inputted 3D image based on the calculated present depth amounts and a set depth adjustment amount.
Image processing apparatus, method and computer program to adjust 3D information based on human visual characteristics