Imaging techniques seek to simulate the array of light that reaches our eyes to provide the illusion of sensing scenes directly. Both photography and computer graphics deal with the generation of images. Both disciplines have to cope with the high dynamic range in the energy of visible light that human eyes can sense.

Traditionally photography and computer graphics took different approaches to the high dynamic range problem. Work over the last ten years though has unified these disciplines and created powerful new tools for the creation of complex, compelling and realistic images. This book provides a practical introduction to the emerging new discipline of high dynamic range imaging that combines photography and computer graphics. By providing detailed equations and code, the book gives the reader the tools needed to experiment with new techniques for creating compelling images.
A supplemental website contains downloads and additional information.

Reviews

This book provides a comprehensive guide to this exciting new area. By providing detailed equations and code, the book gives the reader the tools needed to experiment with new techniques for creating compelling images.

—From the Foreword by Holly Rushmeier, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA

There are MATLAB programs for most of the methods described and you can use this to clarify and experiment with the ideas. … If you are planning to do any academic work on HRD or use it as part of a larger research program, then it might be worth getting a copy of this book … .

—David Conrad, IProgrammer, July 2011

Contents

Introduction

Light, Human Vision, and Color Spaces

HDR Pipeline

HDR Content Generation

HDR Content Storing

Visualization of HDR Content

Tone Mapping

TMO MATLAB Framework

Global Operators

Local Operators

Frequency-Based Operators

Segmentation Operators

New Trends to the Tone Maoblem

Summary

Expansion Operators for Low Dynamic Range Content

Linearization of the Signal Using a Single Image

Decontouring Models for High Contrast Displays

EO MATLAB Framework

Global Models

Classification Models

Expand Map Models

User-Based Models: HDR Hallucination

Summary

Image-Based Lighting

Environment Map

Rendering with IBL

Summary

Evaluation

Psychophysical Experiments

Error Metric

Summary

HDR Content Compression

HDR Compression MATLAB Framework

HDR Image Compression

HDR Texture Compression

HDR Video Compression

Summary

Appendix A: The Bilateral Filter

Appendix B: Retinex Filters

Appendix C: A Brief Overview of the MATLAB HDR Toolbox

Bibliography

Index

Author Bio

Francesco Banterle is a post-doc researcher in the Visual Computing Laboratory at ISTI-CNR Italy. He earned a Ph.D. in engine...