Skin Color Correction Using Mask Pixel Difference Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image processing methods for skin color correction, such as Gaussian low pass filtering and bilateral filtering, fail to effectively remove freckles and wrinkles while preserving edge details, leading to unnatural images with blurred edges and freckle clustering.
Innovation Solution
An image processing method that detects skin color regions, determines mask pixels around a center pixel, calculates difference values, and adjusts pixel values based on correction standards to efficiently remove freckles and wrinkles while preserving edge details by using a digital signal processor (DSP) with specific units for skin color region detection, mask pixel determination, difference calculation, and pixel correction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If Gaussian low pass filter is used to remove freckles, then freckle removal effect is achieved, but edges become blurred
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different processing strategies to different regions: for pixels with similar brightness to neighbors (normal skin), it uses averaging to remove freckles; for pixels with significant brightness differences (edge regions), it preserves the original values to maintain edge sharpness. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between freckle removal and edge preservation.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of applying uniform filtering to all pixels, the patent selectively applies the averaging operation only to pixels that meet specific brightness similarity criteria. This partial action approach removes freckles from appropriate regions while avoiding edge regions, thus resolving the contradiction.
2Manufacturing precision
If bilateral filter is used to remove freckles, then edge preservation is improved, but freckles still blur and cluster together
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements region-specific processing by comparing each pixel's brightness with its neighbors and applying different operations accordingly. This local quality approach ensures that freckle removal is applied where appropriate while preventing the clustering effect that occurs with bilateral filtering.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the processing parameter (brightness difference threshold) to determine whether to apply filtering or preserve original values. By dynamically adjusting the application of the filtering operation based on local brightness characteristics, it achieves better freckle removal without the clustering artifacts produced by bilateral filtering.
3Productivity
If conventional filtering methods are used, then processing speed is maintained, but additional complicated processes are needed to solve edge blurring
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the freckle removal function and edge preservation function into a single unified processing step. By combining the brightness comparison logic with the averaging operation in one pass, it eliminates the need for separate edge detection and filtering stages, thus reducing complexity while maintaining processing speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The processing method is self-adaptive, automatically determining which pixels require filtering based on their local brightness characteristics without needing external edge detection or manual parameter adjustment. This self-service approach simplifies the overall process while maintaining both speed and quality.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are an image processing method and an image processing apparatus for performing skin color correction for removing freckles and wrinkles by using mask pixels spaced apart from a center pixel by a predetermined number of pixels, a digital photographing apparatus using the image processing apparatus, and a computer readable storage medium having stored thereon a computer program for executing the method. According to various embodiments of the invention, the skin color correction for efficiently removing freckles and wrinkles and preserving an edge may be performed.