IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD AND APPARATUS

In an image processing method, wherein image processing is carried out on an original image signal representing an original image, graininess and/or sharpness of the original image is estimated in accordance with the original image signal. The image processing is then carried out on the original image signal and in accordance with the graininess and/or the sharpness having been estimated, and a processed image signal is thereby obtained. The image processing optimum for an image can thereby be carried out regardless of graininess and/or sharpness of the image.