Extending dynamic range of monochrome and color images through fusion

Abstract

This paper presents an approach to enhance the dynamic range of monochromatic and color images. The goal of this method is that of overcoming the inherent physical limitations of the acquisition process. The approach uses pattern-selective image fusion as a means to integrate information from images acquired under different shutter speeds or apertures. The result of this process is a composite in which none of the portions of the image is over or under saturated and the underlying information has been preserved. The results show the performance of this enhancement process from imagery taken from consumer-grade video camera equipment.