HDR Image Generation based on Intensity Clustering and Local Feature Analysis

This paper describes a cluster-based method for combining differently exposed images in order to increase their dynamic range. Initially an image is decomposed into a set of arbitrary shaped regions. For each region we compute a utility function which is based on the amount of presented information and an entropy. This function is used to select the most appropriate exposure for each region. After the exposures are selected, a bilateral filtering is applied in order to make the interregional transitions smooth. As a result we obtain weighting coefficients for each exposure and pixel. An output image is combined from clusters of input images using weights. Each pixel of the output image is calculated as a weighted sum of exposures. The proposed method allows recovering details from overexposed and underexposed parts of image without producing additional noise. Our experiments show effectiveness of the algorithm for the high dynamic range scenes. It requires no information about shutter speed or camera parameters. This method shows robust results even if the exposure difference between input images is 2-stops or higher. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.