Tone mapping

About: Tone mapping is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 1713 publications have been published within this topic receiving 48490 citations.

Flicker reduction in tone mapped high dynamic range video

Abstract: In order to display a high dynamic range (HDR) video on a regular low dynamic range (LDR) screen, it needs to be tone mapped. A great number of tone mapping (TM) operators exist - most of them designed to tone map one image at a time. Using them on each frame of an HDR video individually leads to flicker in the resulting sequence. In our work, we analyze three tone mapping operators with respect to flicker. We propose a criterion for the automatic detection of image flicker by analyzing the log average pixel brightness of the tone mapped frame. Flicker is detected if the difference between the averages of two consecutive frames is larger than a threshold derived from Stevens' power law. Fine-tuning of the threshold is done in a subjective study. Additionally, we propose a generic method to reduce flicker as a post processing step. It is applicable to all tone mapping operators. We begin by tone mapping a frame with the chosen operator. If the flicker detection reports a visible variation in the frame's brightness, its brightness is adjusted. As a result, the brightness variation is smoothed over several frames, becoming less disturbing.

Binocular tone mapping

Abstract: By extending from monocular displays to binocular displays, one additional image domain is introduced. Existing binocular display systems only utilize this additional image domain for stereopsis. Our human vision is not only able to fuse two displaced images, but also two images with difference in detail, contrast and luminance, up to a certain limit. This phenomenon is known as binocular single vision. Humans can perceive more visual content via binocular fusion than just a linear blending of two views. In this paper, we make a first attempt in computer graphics to utilize this human vision phenomenon, and propose a binocular tone mapping framework. The proposed framework generates a binocular low-dynamic range (LDR) image pair that preserves more human-perceivable visual content than a single LDR image using the additional image domain. Given a tone-mapped LDR image (left, without loss of generality), our framework optimally synthesizes its counterpart (right) in the image pair from the same source HDR image. The two LDR images are different, so that they can aggregately present more human-perceivable visual richness than a single arbitrary LDR image, without triggering visual discomfort. To achieve this goal, a novel binocular viewing comfort predictor (BVCP) is also proposed to prevent such visual discomfort. The design of BVCP is based on the findings in vision science. Through our user studies, we demonstrate the increase of human-perceivable visual richness and the effectiveness of the proposed BVCP in conservatively predicting the visual discomfort threshold of human observers.

Method of displaying a low dynamic range image in a high dynamic range

Abstract: A method of increasing the dynamic range of an image comprising a plurality of pixels each having a luminance value within a first luminance dynamic range. The method includes determining a background luminance value for each pixel of the image and determining a minimum and a maximum of the background luminance values. A conversion factor is then determined for each pixel of the image based on the minimum and maximum of the background luminance values. The image id converted from the first luminance dynamic range to a second luminance dynamic range by multiplying the luminance value of each pixel of the image by its conversion factor.

Image Display Algorithms for High and Low Dynamic Range Display Devices

Abstract: — With interest in high-dynamic-range imaging mounting, techniques for displaying such images on conventional display devices are gaining in importance. Conversely, high-dynamic-range display hardware is creating the need for display algorithms that prepare images for such displays. In this paper, the current state of the art in dynamic-range reduction and expansion is reviewed, and in particular the theoretical and practical need to structure tone reproduction as a combination of a forward and a reverse pass is passed.

Method for dynamic range editing

Abstract: A method of displaying a high dynamic range image, comprising receiving the high dynamic range image, calculating a first set of tone mapping parameters as a function of the high dynamic range image, sub-sampling the first set of tone mapping parameters at a first resolution to create a first sub-sampled parameter set, creating a first tone-mapped image by processing the high dynamic range image as a function of the first sub-sampled parameter set, and displaying the first tone-mapped image. A method of composting a plurality of versions of an image to create the high dynamic range image is also disclosed such that the compositing may be modified as a function of received user input.