What is image processing?
Image processing is the manipulation of images in terms of color, brightness, contrast, texture along with more complicated methods such as restoration, compression and denoising.
Image Processing in Everyday examples
Image processing can be seen in modes of media, where pictures of celebrities are altered to hide imperfections, or to even exaggerate them. As seen in the Dove Evolution commercial, (link located to the left), we can see Image processing done in real time. A woman, after a modeling shoot has her entire face manipulated. Her neck is elongated and her eyes and lips are a much larger size than they are in real life.
These examples of image processing aid in economic gain. They either sell an image that everyone wants to buy, or they sell an image that they think will gain scrutinization from the people that purchase these images.
Image Processing in the Medical Field
Image processing is also very prominent in the medical field. Medical imaging refers to the techniques and processes used to create images of the human body, or parts of the human body, as you can see in the link to the left (MRI Scan) shows a digitally created image of a human head.These images are created to aid in medical procedures which try to seek, reveal, examine or even diagnose a disease (wikipedia). In Medical Processing doctors use the regenerated images of the human boday as a "map" to guide them to a distinct and precise location of tumors, nerves, veins, and organs--Basically anywhere in the human body where it is difficult to gain access to.
Digital Portrait Restoration
Over time, original works of art lose their luster and true beauty when particles oxidize and disintegrate. These tend to leave large cracks in the painting, which are unappealing; this is where portrait restoration comes into play. Digital image processing techniquescan be used to simulate color restoration by obtaining an estimation of the original visual appearance of a painting (IEEE xplore). The image is scanned, and then programs, both measuring in mathmatical values and color filters, identify the best way to fill in the cracks, find the correct shading and simulate the image on a more detailed scale than was availiable before.
Link to see image transformation is located to the left.
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