An edge extracting unit of a contour image generator generates an edge image of an input image using an edge extraction filter, etc. A foreground processing unit extracts the foreground from the input image using a background image and expands the foreground to generate an expanded foreground image. The foreground processing unit further generates a foreground boundary image constructed of the boundary of the expanded foreground region. A mask unit masks the edge image using the expanded foreground image to eliminate edges in the background. A synthesis unit synthesizes the masked edge image and the foreground boundary image to generate a contour image.