Image fusion is the process of combining relevant information in two or more images of a scene into a single
highly informative image. Depending on what is considered relevant information, the images can be combined
differently. Using image contrast as the relevant information, multi-focus images can be combined into a single
high-contrast image.
Sharp images contain more details than blurred images. Often due to great variations in a scene's depth, it is
not possible to capture an image where all areas of the scene appear sharp. Only scene areas that are at and
near the focus plane appear sharp. Areas in front of or behind the focus plane appear blurred. The ability to
create a single image where all scene areas appear sharp is desired not only in digital photography but also in
various machine vision applications.
A scene area at and near the focus plane appears sharp in an image and has a higher contrast. The image
domain is subdivided into equal regions and the image appearing the sharpest within each region is selected
and blended together to create an image that is sharp everywhere.
Figs. 1a and 1b show two images of a newspaper scene obtained at different focus levels. By fusing the
images, the image shown in Fig 2c is obtained. Figs. 2a and 2b show two images of books taken by a camera at
different focus levels, and Fig. 2c shows the fused image. Note that if an area appears blurred in all images, the
area will appear blurred in the fused image. To sharpen the fused image further, see the image enhancement
page.
highly informative image. Depending on what is considered relevant information, the images can be combined
differently. Using image contrast as the relevant information, multi-focus images can be combined into a single
high-contrast image.
Sharp images contain more details than blurred images. Often due to great variations in a scene's depth, it is
not possible to capture an image where all areas of the scene appear sharp. Only scene areas that are at and
near the focus plane appear sharp. Areas in front of or behind the focus plane appear blurred. The ability to
create a single image where all scene areas appear sharp is desired not only in digital photography but also in
various machine vision applications.
A scene area at and near the focus plane appears sharp in an image and has a higher contrast. The image
domain is subdivided into equal regions and the image appearing the sharpest within each region is selected
and blended together to create an image that is sharp everywhere.
Figs. 1a and 1b show two images of a newspaper scene obtained at different focus levels. By fusing the
images, the image shown in Fig 2c is obtained. Figs. 2a and 2b show two images of books taken by a camera at
different focus levels, and Fig. 2c shows the fused image. Note that if an area appears blurred in all images, the
area will appear blurred in the fused image. To sharpen the fused image further, see the image enhancement
page.
| (a) (b) |
(c)
Fig. 1. (a), (b) Two images of a newspaper scene obtained at different focus levels of a camera. (c) The fusion
result.
result.
(a)
(b)
(c)
Fig. 2. Two books at different distances to the camera. (a) Image obtained by focusing the camera on the
distant book. (b) Image obtained when focusing the camera on the near book. (c) The result of fusing the
images. The fused image shows both books in focus.
distant book. (b) Image obtained when focusing the camera on the near book. (c) The result of fusing the
images. The fused image shows both books in focus.
To see this software in action view this video, and for questions contact:
To obtain a license for this multi-focus
image fusion software, follow this link =>
image fusion software, follow this link =>
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| Multi-focus image fusion |
| Image Registration and Fusion Systems |
