High Dynamic Range for High Fidelity Image Synthesis of Real Scenes
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Bradford
Department Name: Faculty of Life Sciences
Abstract
The computer graphics industry, and in particular those involved with films, games, simulation, virtual reality and military applications, continue to demand more realistic computer-generated images, that is computed images that more accurately match the real scene they are intended to represent. This is particularly challenging when considering images of the natural world, which presents our visual system with a wide range of colours and intensities. In most real scenes, for example, looking from inside a house towards a window, the ratio between the darkest areas (e.g. inside the room) and the brightest area (outside the window), the so-called contrast ratio, could be many thousands to one. A typical computer monitor only has a contrast ratio of about 100:1 and is thus incapable of accurately displaying such scenes.A number of appearance-preserving, or tone-mapping, operators (TMOs) have been developed in order to try to achieve a perceptual match between the real-world scene and what is displayed on the computer monitor. However, it has not yet been possible to validate the fidelity of these TMOs thoroughly against the real scenes they are trying to portray. The recent development of novel, high dynamic range (HDR) displays, capable of 75,000:1 contrast ratio now provide the opportunity to compute and display computer-generated images that are perceptually much closer to the real world.This research proposal will use these novel HDR displays to evaluate existing TMOs to see how well they do preserve the appearance of the real scenes, and will use the insights gained to develop new, more accurate TMOs for existing computer monitors and HDR displays. A framework will also be produced that will provide a straightforward, objective way of comparing real and synthetic images. Two applications, which are critically dependent on the realism of computed images, are virtual archaeology and military simulations. When investigating past environments on a computer, failure to produce images that accurately match what the past environment may have looked like, may in fact lead to the archaeologists misinterpreting the past. Similarly, the incorrect display of a military vehicle attempting to camouflage in a certain terrain may lead to detection of the vehicle in the real battlefield scenario. We will use specific examples from archaeology and camouflage to test the results of our research.
Publications
Alexa Ruppertsberg (Author)
(2005)
The Gilchrist room revisited
Alexa Ruppertsberg (Author)
(2006)
Colour accuracy in computer simulations for the study of illumination phenomena
Banterle F
(2016)
Mixing tone mapping operators on the GPU by differential zone mapping based on psychophysical experiments
in Signal Processing: Image Communication
Banterle F
(2007)
A framework for inverse tone mapping
in The Visual Computer
Banterle F
(2009)
A Psychophysical Evaluation of Inverse Tone Mapping Techniques
in Computer Graphics Forum
Bloj M
(2010)
The role of mutual illumination in gradient formation
in Journal of Vision
Bloj M
(2009)
Exploring eye movements for tone mapped images
Bloj M
(2010)
Characterisation of a High Dynamic Range display
in Journal of Vision
F Banterle
(2009)
High Dynamic Range Imaging and LDR Expansion for Generating HDR Content
Garcia-Suarez L
(2010)
Visual sensitivity to isoluminant chromatic gradients with different spatial profiles
in Journal of Vision
Harding G
(2010)
Real and predicted influence of image manipulations on eye movements during scene recognition.
in Journal of vision
Hedrich M
(2010)
Colour constancy for real 3D and 2D scenes under typical and atypical illuminant changes
in Journal of Vision
Hedrich M
(2009)
Color constancy improves for real 3D objects.
in Journal of vision
Hedrich M
(2010)
Basic colour names for 2D samples: effects of presentation media and illuminants.
in Ophthalmic & physiological optics : the journal of the British College of Ophthalmic Opticians (Optometrists)
Luis Garcia-Suarez (Author)
(2007)
Visual perception of gradients: The role of direct and mutual illumination
Marina Bloj (Author)
(2007)
High dynamic range displays
Monica Hedrich (Author)
(2007)
Colour perception in 2-D and 3-D
Ruppertsberg A
(2007)
Displaying colourimetrically calibrated images on a high dynamic range display
in Journal of Visual Communication and Image Representation
Ruppertsberg A
(2010)
Sensitivity to gradients in complex scenes
in Journal of Vision
Ruppertsberg A
(2008)
Sensitivity to luminance and chromaticity gradients in a complex scene
in Journal of Vision
Ruppertsberg A.I.
(2006)
Colour accuracy in computer simulations for the study of illumination phenomena
in CGIV 2006 - 3rd European Conference on Colour in Graphics, Imaging, and Vision, Final Program and Proceedings
Description | LMUK Insys Ltd |
Organisation | Lockheed Martin |
Country | United States |
Sector | Private |
Start Year | 2006 |
Description | Sunnybrook Technologies Inc |
Organisation | Sunnybrook Technologies Inc |
Country | Canada |
Sector | Private |
Start Year | 2006 |