Evaluation of color image quality
AssigneeMicrosoft Corporation
InventorsMichael Stokes, Anthony M. Presley
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Abstract
The disclosed method diminishes the resolution or the perceived resolution of images and compares the images to evaluate the color image quality of images. The method determines how far away images have to be or how much the resolution needs to be reduced for the images to be perceived as the same. A smaller viewing distance or a lower reduction in resolution corresponds to a closer similarity between the images. A relatively longer viewing distance or a greater reduction in resolution where the visual difference becomes unperceivable is indicative of a large difference between the images.
Claims56
A method of evaluating color image quality of an output image from an image output device, comprising:
- a) viewing an output image from the image output device and a second image from a view point;
- b) identifying a distance between the view point to the output image and the second image where a visual difference between the output image and the second image become unperceivable;
- c) using the identified distance where the visual difference becomes unperceivable as a measure of color image quality.
A method of evaluating color image quality of an output image from an image output device, comprising:
- a) comparing an output image from the image output device and a second image as perceived from a plurality of predefined distances;
- b) identifying a shortest one of the plurality of predefined distances where a difference between the output image and the second image cannot be perceived;
- c) using the identified distance as a measure of color image quality.
A method of evaluating color image quality of an output image from an image output device, comprising:
- a) setting a distance for viewing an output image from the image output device and a second image;
- b) viewing the output image and the second image from the set distance;
- c) determining whether a difference between the output image and the second image can be perceived from the set distance;
- d) indicating that the color image quality is acceptable when a difference between the output image and the second image cannot be perceived from the set distance;
- e) indicating that the color image quality is unacceptable, decreasing a resolution for both the output image and the second image, and repeating steps c), d) and e) until the difference between the output image and the second image cannot be perceived from the set distance, when a difference between the output image and the second image can be perceived from the set distance.
A method of evaluating color image quality of an output image from an image output device, comprising:
- a) comparing an output image from the image output device and a second image as displayed in a plurality of predefined resolutions, wherein comparing the output image from the image output device and the second image as displayed in a plurality of predefined resolutions includes:
- comparing the output image at a first predefined resolution to the second image at the first predefined resolution, and
- comparing the output image at a second predefined resolution to the second image at the second predefined resolution;
- b) identifying a highest one of the plurality of predefined resolutions where a difference between the output image and the second image cannot be perceived;
- c) using the identified resolution as a measure of color image quality.
A system for user evaluation of color image quality of an output image, comprising:
- a) a user input device;
- b) an image output device for providing the output images;
- c) a memory in which machine instructions are stored;
- and
- e) a processor that is coupled to the user input device, the user output device, and to the memory, the processor executing the machine instructions to carry out a plurality of functions, including:
- i) causing the user output device to provide an output image;
- ii) prompting a user to compare the output image and a second image from a plurality of predefined distances;
- iii) prompting the user to enter a shortest one of the plurality of predefined distances where a difference between the output image and the second image cannot be perceived through the user input device;
- iv) determining whether the color image quality of the output image is acceptable based on the distance entered by the user.
A method of evaluating color image quality of an output image from an image output device, comprising:
- a) setting a distance for viewing an output image from the image output device and a second image, wherein the output image device is a color printer and the output image is a printed color photograph;
- b) viewing the output image and the second image from the set distance;
- c) determining whether a difference between the output image and the second image can be perceived from the set distance;
- d) indicating that the color image quality is acceptable when a difference between the output image and the second image cannot be perceived from the set distance;
- and
- e) indicating that the color image quality is unacceptable when a difference between the output image and the second image can be perceived from the set distance.
A method of evaluating color image quality of an output image from an image output device, comprising:
- a) setting a distance for viewing an output image from the image output device and a second image, wherein the output image device is an image projecting device and the output image is a projected image;
- b) viewing the output image and the second image from the set distance;
- c) determining whether a difference between the output image and the second image can be perceived from the set distance;
- d) indicating that the color image quality is acceptable when a difference between the output image and the second image cannot be perceived from the set distance;
- e) indicating that the color image quality is unacceptable when a difference between the output image and the second image can be perceived from the set distance.
A method of evaluating color image quality of an output image from an image output device, comprising:
- a) comparing an output image from the image output device and a second image as displayed in a plurality of predefined resolutions;
- b) identifying a highest one of the plurality of predefined resolutions where a difference between the output image and the second image cannot be perceived;
- c) using the identified resolution as a measure of color image quality, wherein a plurality of images are viewed and a highest one of the plurality of predefined resolutions where differences between the plurality of images cannot be perceived is identified.
A method of evaluating color image quality of an output image from an image output device, comprising:
- a) comparing an output image from the image output device and a second image as displayed in a plurality of predefined resolutions, wherein the output image device is an image projecting device and the output image is a projected image;
- b) identifying a highest one of the plurality of predefined resolutions where a difference between the output image and the second image cannot be perceived;
- c) using the identified resolution as a measure of color image quality.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.