An image processing apparatus for sharpening photographic image data obtained through digitization of a photographic image by using a sharpening filter capable of sharpening intensity adjustment. The apparatus includes a parameter determining section for extracting from the photographic image data a predetermined color pixel showing a predetermined color and then giving a sharpening intensity adjustment parameter to the predetermined color pixel and a sharpening operation section for effecting a pixel-by-pixel sharpening operation on the photographic image data while adjusting a sharpening intensity of the sharpening filter according to the sharpening intensity adjustment parameter.