Image Texture Combination via Illumination-Reflectance Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image combination methods, such as alpha-blending a target image with a filter image, result in dynamic range loss and foreground fading issues when representing the texture of a drawing medium like paper, especially when the filter image is patchy.
Innovation Solution
The method involves acquiring illumination and reflectance components from an input image, generating a texture-combined image by combining the reflectance component with a texture image, and then combining this with the illumination component to create a combined image, thereby incorporating texture without affecting the dynamic range, thus preventing foreground fading.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If alpha-blending is used to combine target image and filter image to represent drawing medium texture, then the texture representation is achieved, but the dynamic range of the original image is lost and foreground fading occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the image processing into distinct components: illumination component extraction, reflectance component extraction, and selective combination. By separating these functions, the patent applies texture only to the reflectance component while preserving the illumination component's dynamic range, thereby avoiding foreground fading while achieving texture representation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different processing qualities to different components of the image. The illumination component maintains its original high dynamic range quality, while the reflectance component receives texture processing. This local differentiation allows texture representation in appropriate areas without degrading the overall image quality or causing foreground fading.
2Shape
If alpha-blending combines target image and filter image, then drawing medium texture is represented, but foreground elements such as characters fade due to inconsistent gradation values
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the image into illumination and reflectance components, applying texture only to the reflectance component. This segmentation ensures that foreground elements, which are primarily defined by illumination variations, remain visible and unaffected by texture processing, thereby maintaining foreground reliability while achieving texture representation.
Solution Approach 2:
By applying texture processing locally only to the reflectance component rather than the entire image, the patent preserves the high-contrast illumination information that defines foreground elements. This selective application maintains foreground visibility while adding texture where appropriate.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an image combination method that can represent the texture of a drawing medium such as paper without causing a foreground fading problem. The image combination method includes a step of acquiring an illumination-light component and a reflectance component from an input image, a step of generating a texture-combined image by combining the reflectance component or the corrected reflectance component and a texture image representing a desired texture, and a step of acquiring a combined image by combining the illumination-light component or the corrected illumination-light component and the texture-combined image.