Evaluation and improvement of the workflow of digital imaging of fine art reproduction in museums

Fine arts refer to a broad spectrum of art formats, ie~painting, calligraphy, photography, architecture, and so forth. Fine art reproductions are to create surrogates of the original artwork that are able to faithfully deliver the aesthetics and feelings of the original. Traditionally, reproductions of fine art are made in the form of catalogs, postcards or books by museums, libraries, archives, and so on (hereafter called museums for simplicity). With the widespread adoption of digital archiving in museums, more and more artwork is reproduced to be viewed on a display. For example, artwork collections are made available through museum websites and Google Art Project for art lovers to view on their own displays. In the thesis, we study the fine art reproduction of paintings in the form of soft copy viewed on displays by answering four questions: (1) what is the impact of the viewing condition and original on image quality evaluation? (2) can image quality be improved by avoiding visual editing in current workflows of fine art reproduction? (3) can lightweight spectral imaging be used for fine art reproduction? and (4) what is the performance of spectral reproductions compared with reproductions by current workflows? We started with evaluating the perceived image quality of fine art reproduction created by representative museums in the United States under controlled and uncontrolled environments with and without the presence of the original artwork. The experimental results suggest that the image quality is highly correlated with the color accuracy of the reproduction only when the original is present and the reproduction is evaluated on a characterized display. We then examined the workflows to create these reproductions, and found that current workflows rely heavily on visual editing and retouching (global and local color adjustments on the digital reproduction) to improve the color accuracy of the reproduction. Visual editing and retouching can be both time-consuming and subjective in nature (depending on experts\u27 own experience and understanding of the artwork) lowering the efficiency of artwork digitization considerably. We therefore propose to improve the workflow of fine art reproduction by (1) automating the process of visual editing and retouching in current workflows based on RGB acquisition systems and by (2) recovering the spectral reflectance of the painting with off-the-shelf equipment under commonly available lighting conditions. Finally, we studied the perceived image quality of reproductions created by current three-channel (RGB) workflows with those by spectral imaging and those based on an exemplar-based method

Automated detection of effective scene illuminant chromaticity from specular highlights in digital images

An advanced, automated method is presented for determining an effective scene illuminant chromaticity (scene illuminant plus imaging system variables) from specular highlights in digital images subsequent to image capture. Underlying theories are presented based on a two component reflection model where the scene illuminant relative spectral power distribution is preserved in the specular component. Related methodologies for extracting scene illuminant information as well as alternative methods for achieving color constancy are presented along with factors which inhibit successful implementation. Following, development of a more robust algorithm is discussed. This algorithm is based on locating the center of convergence of a radial line pattern in the two-dimensional chromaticity histogram which theoretically identifies the effective scene illuminant chromaticity. This is achieved by using a radiality index to quantify the relative correlation between a radial mask and the histogram radial line pattern at discrete chromaticity coordinates within a specified search region. The coordinates associated with the strongest radiality index are adopted to represent the effective scene illuminant chromaticity. For a set of controlled test images, the physics-based specular highlight algorithm determined effective scene illuminant chromaticities to a level of accuracy which was nearly three times better than that of a benchmark statistically-based gray-world algorithm. The primary advantage of the specular highlight algorithm was its sustained performance when presented with image conditions of dominant colors, weak specular reflections, and strong interreflections

Increasing temporal, structural, and spectral resolution in images using exemplar-based priors

In the past decade, camera manufacturers have offered smaller form factors, smaller pixel sizes (leading to higher resolution images), and faster processing chips to increase the performance of consumer cameras. However, these conventional approaches have failed to capitalize on the spatio-temporal redundancy inherent in images, nor have they adequately provided a solution for finding $3$D point correspondences for cameras sampling different bands of the visible spectrum. In this thesis, we pose the following question---given the repetitious nature of image patches, and appropriate camera architectures, can statistical models be used to increase temporal, structural, or spectral resolution? While many techniques have been suggested to tackle individual aspects of this question, the proposed solutions either require prohibitively expensive hardware modifications and/or require overly simplistic assumptions about the geometry of the scene. We propose a two-stage solution to facilitate image reconstruction; 1) design a linear camera system that optically encodes scene information and 2) recover full scene information using prior models learned from statistics of natural images. By leveraging the tendency of small regions to repeat throughout an image or video, we are able to learn prior models from patches pulled from exemplar images. The quality of this approach will be demonstrated for two application domains, using low-speed video cameras for high-speed video acquisition and multi-spectral fusion using an array of cameras. We also investigate a conventional approach for finding 3D correspondence that enables a generalized assorted array of cameras to operate in multiple modalities, including multi-spectral, high dynamic range, and polarization imaging of dynamic scenes

Navigating the roadblocks to spectral color reproduction: data-efficient multi-channel imaging and spectral color management

Commercialization of spectral imaging for color reproduction will require the identification and traversal of roadblocks to its success. Among the drawbacks associated with spectral reproduction is a tremendous increase in data capture bandwidth and processing throughput. Methods are proposed for attenuating these increases with data-efficient methods based on adaptive multi-channel visible-spectrum capture and with low-dimensional approaches to spectral color management. First, concepts of adaptive spectral capture are explored. Current spectral imaging approaches require tens of camera channels although previous research has shown that five to nine channels can be sufficient for scenes limited to pre-characterized spectra. New camera systems are proposed and evaluated that incorporate adaptive features reducing capture demands to a similar few channels with the advantage that a priori information about expected scenes is not needed at the time of system design. Second, proposals are made to address problems arising from the significant increase in dimensionality within the image processing stage of a spectral image workflow. An Interim Connection Space (ICS) is proposed as a reduced dimensionality bottleneck in the processing workflow allowing support of spectral color management. In combination these investigations into data-efficient approaches improve two critical points in the spectral reproduction workflow: capture and processing. The progress reported here should help the color reproduction community appreciate that the route to data-efficient multi-channel visible spectrum imaging is passable and can be considered for many imaging modalities

Multi-channel coded-aperture photography

Thesis (M. Eng.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 2008.Includes bibliographical references (p. 87-89).This thesis describes the multi-channel coded-aperture photography, a modified camera system that can extract an all-focus image of the scene along with a depth estimate over the scene. The modification consists of inserting a set of patterned color filters into the aperture of the camera lens. This work generalizes the previous research on a single-channel coded aperture, by deploying distinct filters in the three primary color channels, in order to cope better with the effect of a Bayer filter and to exploit the correlation among the channels. We derive the model and algorithms for the multi-channel coded aperture, comparing the simulated performance of the reconstruction algorithm against that of the original single-channel coded aperture. We also demonstrate a physical prototype, discussing the challenges arising from the use of multiple filters. We provide a comparison with the single-channel coded aperture in performance, and present results on several scenes of cluttered objects at various depths.by Jongmin Baek.M.Eng

Digital Camera Workflow for High Dynamic Range Images Using a Model of Retinal Processing

We propose a complete digital camera workflow to capture and render high dynamic range (HDR) static scenes, from RAW sensor data to an output- referred encoded image. In traditional digital camera processing, demosaicing is one of the first operations done after scene analysis. It is followed by rendering operations, such as color correction and tone mapping. Our approach is based on a model of retinal processing of the human visual system (HVS). In the HVS, rendering operations, including adaptation, are performed directly on the cone responses, which corresponds to a mosaic image. Our workflow conforms more closely to the retinal processing model, performing all rendering before demosaicing.. This reduces the complexity of the computation, as only one third of the pixels are processed. This is especially important as our tone mapping operator applies local and global tone corrections, which is usually needed to well render high dynamic scenes. Our algorithms efficiently process HDR images with different keys and different content

Digital Color Imaging

This paper surveys current technology and research in the area of digital color imaging. In order to establish the background and lay down terminology, fundamental concepts of color perception and measurement are first presented us-ing vector-space notation and terminology. Present-day color recording and reproduction systems are reviewed along with the common mathematical models used for representing these devices. Algorithms for processing color images for display and communication are surveyed, and a forecast of research trends is attempted. An extensive bibliography is provided

Appearance-based image splitting for HDR display systems

High dynamic range displays that incorporate two optically-coupled image planes have recently been developed. This dual image plane design requires that a given HDR input image be split into two complementary standard dynamic range components that drive the coupled systems, therefore there existing image splitting issue. In this research, two types of HDR display systems (hardcopy and softcopy HDR display) are constructed to facilitate the study of HDR image splitting algorithm for building HDR displays. A new HDR image splitting algorithm which incorporates iCAM06 image appearance model is proposed, seeking to create displayed HDR images that can provide better image quality. The new algorithm has potential to improve image details perception, colorfulness and better gamut utilization. Finally, the performance of the new iCAM06-based HDR image splitting algorithm is evaluated and compared with widely spread luminance square root algorithm through psychophysical studies