Is there a preference for linearity when viewing natural images?

David Kane; Marcelo Bertamío

doi:10.1117/12.2179003

8 February 2015 Is there a preference for linearity when viewing natural images?

David Kane, Marcelo Bertamío

Proceedings Volume 9396, Image Quality and System Performance XII; 939614 (2015) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2179003
Event: SPIE/IS&T Electronic Imaging, 2015, San Francisco, California, United States

Abstract

The system gamma of the imaging pipeline, defined as the product of the encoding and decoding gammas, is typically greater than one and is stronger for images viewed with a dark background (e.g. cinema) than those viewed in lighter conditions (e.g. office displays).^1-3 However, for high dynamic range (HDR) images reproduced on a low dynamic range (LDR) monitor, subjects often prefer a system gamma of less than one,⁴ presumably reflecting the greater need for histogram equalization in HDR images. In this study we ask subjects to rate the perceived quality of images presented on a LDR monitor using various levels of system gamma. We reveal that the optimal system gamma is below one for images with a HDR and approaches or exceeds one for images with a LDR. Additionally, the highest quality scores occur for images where a system gamma of one is optimal, suggesting a preference for linearity (where possible). We find that subjective image quality scores can be predicted by computing the degree of histogram equalization of the lightness distribution. Accordingly, an optimal, image dependent system gamma can be computed that maximizes perceived image quality.

Citation Download Citation

David Kane and Marcelo Bertamío "Is there a preference for linearity when viewing natural images?", Proc. SPIE 9396, Image Quality and System Performance XII, 939614 (8 February 2015); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2179003

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