In this paper, we introduce a new spatial domain color contrast enhancement algorithm based on the three dimensional alpha weighted quadratic filter (3DAWQF). The goal of this work is to utilize the characteristics of the nonlinear filter to enhance image contrast while recovering the color information. For images with less than desirable illumination, a modified Naka-Rushton function is proposed to adjust the underexposed or overexposed intensities in the image. We also present a new image contrast measure called the Root Mean Enhancement (RME) to model Root Mean Square (RMS) contrast in image sub-blocks. A color RME contrast measure CRME is also proposed based on the RME contrast in the RGB color sub-cubes. The new measures help choose the optimal operating parameters for enhancement algorithms, thus improving the practicality for using quadratic filters in image processing applications. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed methods on a variety of images. Experimental results show that the 3DAWQF can enhance the image contrast and color efficiently and effectively. Comparisons with existing state of the art algorithms will be also presented.

Date Published: 28 May 2013
PDF: 12 pages
Proc. SPIE 8755, Mobile Multimedia/Image Processing, Security, and Applications 2013, 875514 (28 May 2013); doi: 10.1117/12.2015619

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 8755:
Mobile Multimedia/Image Processing, Security, and Applications 2013
Sos S. Agaian; Sabah A. Jassim; Eliza Yingzi Du, Editor(s)