Determining image defects using image comparisons

A computer system for analyzing visual defects, comprising:

• one or more processors, one or more computer-readable memories, one or more computer-readable tangible storage medium, and program instructions stored in at least one of the one or more tangible storage medium for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, wherein in the computer system is capable of performing a method comprising:
• performing an image difference analysis between a registered test image and a template image, wherein the image difference analysis comprises determining a meaningful difference between the registered test image and the template image;
• generating a differential image, wherein the differential image comprises a change feature between the registered test image and the template image;
• generating a synthetic image, wherein the synthetic image comprises three layers, wherein the three layers are the differential image, the registered test image, and the template image;
• generating a defect map based on the synthetic image;
• and
• displaying the defect map and the registered test image.

A computer program product for analyzing visual defects, comprising

• one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media and program instructions stored on at least one of the one or more tangible storage media, the program instructions executable by a processor to cause the processor to perform a method comprising:
• performing an image difference analysis between a registered test image and a template image, wherein the image difference analysis comprises determining a meaningful difference between the registered test image and the template image;
• generating a differential image, wherein the differential image comprises a change feature between the registered test image and the template image;
• generating a synthetic image, wherein the synthetic image comprises three layers, wherein the three layers are the differential image, the registered test image, and the template image;
• generating a defect map based on the synthetic image;
• and
• displaying the defect map and the registered test image.