High-dynamic-range imaging

About: High-dynamic-range imaging is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 766 publications have been published within this topic receiving 22577 citations.

Perceptual evaluation of tone mapping operators with real-world scenes

Abstract: A number of successful tone mapping operators for contrast compression have been proposed due to the need to visualize high dynamic range (HDR) images on low dynamic range devices. They were inspired by fields as diverse as image processing, photographic practice, and modeling of the human visual systems (HVS). The variety of approaches calls for a systematic perceptual evaluation of their performance. We conduct a psychophysical experiment based on a direct comparison between the appearance of real-world scenes and HDR images of these scenes displayed on a low dynamic range monitor. In our experiment, HDR images are tone mapped by seven existing tone mapping operators. The primary interest of this psychophysical experiment is to assess the differences in how tone mapped images are perceived by human observers and to find out which attributes of image appearance account for these differences when tone mapped images are compared directly with their corresponding real-world scenes rather than with each other. The human subjects rate image naturalness, overall contrast, overall brightness, and detail reproduction in dark and bright image regions with respect to the corresponding real-world scene. The results indicate substantial differences in perception of images produced by individual tone mapping operators. We observe a clear distinction between global and local operators in favor of the latter, and we classify the tone mapping operators according to naturalness and appearance attributes.

Bilateral Filter Based Compositing for Variable Exposure Photography

Abstract: Compositing a scene from multiple images is of considerableinterest to graphics professionals. Typical compositing techniques involve estimation or explicit prepar ation of matte by an artist. In this article, we address the problem of automatic compositing of a scene from images o btained through variable exposure photography. We consider the High Dynamic Range Imaging (HDRI) problem an d review some of the existing approaches for directly generating a Low Dynamic Range (LDR) image from mul ti-exposure images. We propose a computationally efficient method of scene compositing using edge-prese rving filters such as bilateral filters. The key challenge is to composite the multi-exposure images in such a way so as t o preserve details in both brightly and poorly illuminated regions of the scene within the limited dynamicrange.

Creating cinematic wide gamut HDR-video for the evaluation of tone mapping operators and HDR-displays

Abstract: High quality video sequences are required for the evaluation of tone mapping operators and high dynamic range (HDR) displays. We provide scenic and documentary scenes with a dynamic range of up to 18 stops. The scenes are staged using professional film lighting, make-up and set design to enable the evaluation of image and material appearance. To address challenges for HDR-displays and temporal tone mapping operators, the sequences include highlights entering and leaving the image, brightness changing over time, high contrast skin tones, specular highlights and bright, saturated colors. HDR-capture is carried out using two cameras mounted on a mirror-rig. To achieve a cinematic depth of field, digital motion picture cameras with Super-35mm size sensors are used. We provide HDR-video sequences to serve as a common ground for the evaluation of temporal tone mapping operators and HDR-displays. They are available to the scientific community for further research.

High dynamic range scanning technique

Abstract: Measuring objects with a high variation range of surface reflectivity is challenging for any optical method: This paper addresses a high dynamic range scanning technique that can measure this type of object. It takes advantage of one merit of a phase-shifting algorithm: pixel-by-pixel phase retrieval. For each measurement, a sequence of fringe images with different exposures are taken: the brightest ones have good fringe quality in the darkest areas while the darkest ones have good fringe quality in the brightest areas. They are arranged from brighter to darker (i.e., from higher exposure to lower exposure). The final fringe images, used for phase retrieval, are produced pixel-by-pixel by choosing the brightest but unsaturated corresponding pixel from one exposure. A phase-shifting algorithm is employed to compute the phase, which can be further converted to coordinates. Our experiments demonstrate that the proposed technique can successfully measure objects with high dynamic range of surface reflectivity variation.

Programmable imaging using a digital micromirror array

Abstract: We introduce the notion of a programmable imaging system. Such an imaging system provides a human user or a vision system significant control over the radiometric and geometric characteristics of the system. This flexibility is achieved using a programmable array of micro-mirrors. The orientations of the mirrors of the array can be controlled with high precision over space and time. This enables the system to select and modulate rays from the light field based on the needs of the application at hand. We have implemented a programmable imaging system that uses a digital micro-mirror device (DMD), which is used in digital light processing. Although the mirrors of this device can only be positioned in one of two states, we show that our system can be used to implement a wide variety of imaging functions, including, high dynamic range imaging, feature detection, and object recognition. We conclude with a discussion on how a micro-mirror array can be used to efficiently control field of view without the use of moving parts.