Systems and methods for correcting user identified artifacts in light field images

A method for correcting artifacts in a light field image rendered from a light field obtained by capturing a set of images from different viewpoints and initial depth estimates for pixels within the light field using a processor configured by an image processing application, the initial depth estimates including confidence metrics describing the reliability of the initial depth estimates, the method comprising:

• receiving a user input indicating the location of an artifact within said light field image, the user input selecting at least one pixel in said light field image;
• selecting a region of the light field image containing the indicated artifact;
• identifying additional pixels within the neighborhood of the at least one selected pixel in said light field image, the additional pixels having depth estimates with associated confidence metrics, the additional pixels' confidence metrics satisfying a threshold;
• generating updated depth estimates for pixels within the selected region;
• and
• re-rendering at least a portion of the light field image using the updated depth estimates for the pixels within the selected region.

A method for correcting artifacts in a light field image rendered from a light field obtained by capturing a set of images from different viewpoints and initial depth estimates for pixels within the light field using a processor configured by an image processing application and comprising:

• receiving a user input indicating the location of an artifact within said light field image;
• selecting a region of the light field image containing the indicated artifact;
• generating updated depth estimates for pixels within the selected region by:
• receiving a user input identifying of a region of said light field image that does not contain said artifact;
• determining an updated depth estimate based upon the initial depth estimates of pixels within the identified region of said light field image that does not contain said artifact by averaging the initial depths of pixels within the identified region that does not contain said artifact;
• and
• updating the depth estimates of pixels within the selected region containing said artifact;
• and
• re-rendering at least a portion of the light field image using the updated depth estimates for the pixels within the selected region.

An image processing system, comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• memory containing an image processing application;
• wherein the image processing application configures the processor to:
• receive a user input indicating the location of an artifact within a light field image rendered from a light field obtained by capturing a set of images from different viewpoints and initial depth estimates for pixels within the light field;
• select a region of the light field image containing an indicated artifact;
• generate updated depth estimates for pixels within a selected region by:
• receiving a user input indicating a specific depth;
• and
• determining updated depth estimates for pixels in the selected region of said light field image containing said artifact based upon said specific depth by updating the depth estimate of a given pixel within the selected region containing said artifact with said specific depth when the given pixel is associated with a confidence value that satisfies a threshold;
• and
• re-render at least a portion of a light field image using the updated depth estimates for the pixels within the selected region.