Piecewise-Linear Transformation Functions: Contrast Stretching
Piecewise-Linear Transformation Functions: Contrast Stretching
Piecewise-Linear Transformation Functions: Contrast Stretching
The principal advantage of piecewise linear functions over the other types of
functions is that the form of piecewise functions can be arbitrarily complex. The
principal disadvantage of piecewise functions is that their specification requires
considerably more user input.
Contrast stretching
1. Low-contrast images can result from poor illumination, lack of dynamic range
in the imaging sensor, or even the wrong setting of a lens aperture during image
acquisition. Contrast stretching is a process that expands the range of intensity
levels in an image so that it spans the full intensity range of the recording medium
or display device.
3. If r1 = s1 and r2 = s2,
the transformation is a
linear function that
produces no changes in
intensity levels. If r1 = r2 , s1 = 0 and s2 = L-1, the transformation becomes a
thresholding function that creates a binary image.
3. This transformation, shown in Fig. (a), highlights intensity range [A, B] and
reduces all other intensities to a lower level producing a binary image.
4. The second approach, based on the transformation in Fig. (b), brightens (or
darkens) the range of intensities [A, B] but leaves all other intensity levels in the
image unchanged.
Bit-plane slicing
4. Decomposing an image into its bit planes is useful for analyzing the relative
importance of each bit in the image, a process that aids in determining the
adequacy of the number of bits used to quantize the image.