Physically-based glare effects for digital images

Abstract

<p>The physical mechanisms and physiological causes of glare in human vision are reviewed. These mechanisms are scattering in the cornea, lens, and retina, and di raction in the coherent cell structures on the outer radial areas of the lens. This scattering and di raction are responsible for the \\bloom" and \\flare lines" seen around very bright objects. The di raction e ects cause the \\lenticular halo". The quantitative models of these glare e ects are reviewed, and an algorithm for using these models to add glare e ects to digital images is presented. The resulting digital point-spread function is thus psychophysically based and can substantially increase the \\perceived” dynamic range of computer simulations containing light sources. Finally, a perceptual test is presented that indicates these added glare e ects increase the apparent brightness of light sources in digital images.</p>