The image processing method and apparatus calculate and store gradients representing directions and intensities of a pixel of interest and its surrounding pixels from pixel values of the pixel of interest and its surrounding pixels of image composed of the color image signals that are to be subjected to image processing, calculate connectivity of the pixel of interest with its surrounding pixels from the directions of the stored gradients, calculate directivities of respective R, G and B of the pixel of interest by calculating gradients of respective R, G and B channels of the pixel of interest and decide whether the pixel of interest is an edge portion or not from the calculated connectivity and directivities of respective R, G and B to extract the edge portion. As a result, the method and the apparatus can raise extraction precision of the edge portion, accurately perform the edge portion extraction and increase image quality. Moreover, the method and apparatus calculate correction-amounts of degree of sharpness enhancement and granularities of a plurality of the specified regions formed by dividing the image data based on the extraction result of the edge portion and correct the image data based on these correction amounts. Accordingly, careful and minute corrections of granularity and degree of sharpness enhancement can be performed on the image recorded in one frame.