IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD AND STORAGE MEDIUM FOR STORING PROGRAM

Image data of a photographic image is inputted, and based on information related to a distance from a focal plane when capture is performed, the sharpness of an image that the inputted image data represents is controlled. Image data resulting from the sharpness control being performed is outputted. In the sharpness control, the sharpness control amount is set in accordance with the luminance of a peripheral region that neighbors an in-focus region that is determined to be in-focus in the image.