Multiresolution decomposition of image data before scan conversion processing is hierarchically performed, low-frequency decomposed image data and high-frequency decomposed image data with first to n-th levels are acquired, nonlinear anisotropic diffusion filtering is performed on output data from a next lower layer or the low-frequency decomposed image data in a lowest layer, and filtering for generating edge information on a signal for every layer is performed from the output data from the next lower layer or the low-frequency decomposed image data in the lowest layer. In addition, on the basis of the edge information on each layer, a signal level of the high-frequency decomposed image data is controlled for every layer and multiresolution mixing of the output data of the nonlinear anisotropic diffusion filter and the output data of the high-frequency level control, which are obtained in each layer, are hierarchically performed.
