Assignment no.

2
DIGITAL IMAGE PROCESSING
Topic Covered
Introduction to Digital Image Processing

Submitted To:
Mr. Vijay Dheer
A.P(CSE/IT Deptt.)

Submitted by:
Gurjeet Singh
M. Tech. (3rd Semester)
Roll No. -100686582255

Introduction to Digital Image Processing

Digital image processing is the use of computer algorithms to perform image processing
on digital images. The outcome of this process can be either images or a set of representative
characteristics or properties of the original images.
As a subcategory or field of digital signal processing, digital image processing has many
advantages over analog image processing. It allows a much wider range of algorithms to be
applied to the input data and can avoid problems such as the build-up of noise and signal
distortion during processing. Since images are defined over two dimensions .Digital image
processing may be modeled in the form of Multidimensional Systems.
Digital image: A digital image is a representation of a two-dimensional image as a finite set of
digital values, called picture elements or pixels

Digital image processing focuses on two major tasks:

1. Improvement of pictorial information for human interpretation
2. Processing of image data for storage, transmission and representation for
autonomous machine perception

Some argument about where image processing ends and fields such as image analysis and
computer vision start.The continuum from image processing to computer vision can be broken
up into low-level, mid-level and high-level processes.

Low Level Process : Input: Image

Output: Image

Examples: Noise removal, image sharpening

Mid Level Process:Input: Image

Output: Attributes

Examples: Object recognition, segmentation

High Level Process:Input: Attributes

Output: Understanding

Examples: Scene understanding, autonomous navigation

Stages in digital image processing:

Areas of image processing:

1. Criminology/ Forensics: Investigators may rely on computerized technology that
enables digital processing and enhancement of an image. FBI, NASA and private
technology firms have developed advance computer software that can dramatically
improve clarity and detail visible in still and video images.
2. Digital camera images:
Digital cameras generally include dedicated digital image processing chips to convert the
raw data from the image sensor into a color-corrected image in a standard image file
format. Images from digital cameras often receive further processing to improve their
quality, a distinct advantage that digital cameras have over film cameras. The digital
image processing typically is executed by special software programs that can manipulate
the images in many ways.
Many digital cameras also enable viewing of histograms of images, as an aid for the
photographer to understand the rendered brightness range of each shot more readily.
3. Intelligent transportation systems:
Digital image processing has wide applications in intelligent transportation systems, such
as automatic number plate recognition and traffic sign recognition.
4. Medical Imaging: This technology can be used to generate images of a human body .
These images are then processed and analyzed by experts who provide clinical
prescription based on their observations. Ultrasonic, X-ray are quite often seen in daily
life.
5. Remote Sensing: This technology employs remote sensors to gather information about
the earth. Usually the techniques are used to obtain the information depends on
electromagnetic radiation, force fields that can be detected by cameras , radiometers ,
lasers, radar systems, sonar, seismograph, thermal meters etc.
6. Military: Applications consist of object detection, tracking and three dimensional
reconstructions of territory etc. for example a human body or any subject producing
heat can be detected in night time using infra-red imaging sensors. This technique has
been most commonly used in battlefields.
7. Industrial Inspection/Quality Control: A major area of digital image processing is in
automated visual inspection of manufactured goods. Manufactured goods often check
by digital image processing. e.g:- Controller board for CD-ROM Drive can be checked
in order to inspect missing parts.

8. Morphology: It is a branch of biology that deals with the form and structure of animals
and plants. We use image processing under the context of mathematical morphology as
a tool for extracting image components that are useful in representation and description
of region shapes, such as boundaries, skeleton and convex hull. The language of
mathematical morphology is set theory. Sets in this represents the shapes of objects in
an image.
9. Computer vision: It is science and technology of machines. Machine is able to extract
information from an image that is necessary to solve some task. Computer vision is
concerned with theory behind artificial systems that extract information from images.
Examples of applications of Computer vision include systems for:
(a) Controlling Processes ( e.g an industrial robot)
(b) Detecting events ( e.g for people counting)
(c) Organizing information( e.g for indexing databases of images and image sequencing)
(d) Modelling objects or environments(e.g for industrial inspection, medical image
analysis)
(e) Interaction(e.g as input to a device for computer-human interaction)
Computer vision in some ways inverse of computer graphics.
10. Augmented Reality: It is a term for live direct or indirect view of physical, real world
environment whose elements are augmented by computer generated sensory input ,
such as sounds or graphics.

Steps in digital image processing:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Image Acquisition
Image Preprocessing
Segmentation
Representation and Description
Recognition and Interpretation

1. Image Acquisition: The first step in this process is to acquire a digital image. To do so
it requires an imaging sensor and capability to digitize the signal produced by sensor.

The imaging sensor could also be a line scan camera that produces a single image line
at a time. In this case object motion past the line scanner produces a 2- dimensional
image. If the output of the camera or other imaging sensor is not already in digital
form an analog to digital convertor digitizes it.
Two elements are required to acquire digital images. They are :
A Physical device that is sensitive to a band in the electromagnetic energy
spectrum and that produces an electrical signal output proportional to the level
of energy sensed.
The digitizer is a device for converting the electrical output of the physical
sensing device into digital form.
Image digitization is achieved by feeding the video output of the cameras into a
digitizer which converts the given input to its equivalent digital form.
2. Image Preprocessing: After digital image has been obtained, the next step deals with
preprocessing that image. The key function of preprocessing is to improve the image
in ways that increase the chances for success of the other process. It typically deals
with the techniques for enhancing contrast, removing noise and isolating regions.
The three main categories of digital image processing are image compression, image
enhancement and restoration and measurement extraction.
Image compression: It is a mathematical technique used to reduce amount of
computer memory needed to store a digital image.
Image Enhancement: These techniques can be used to modify brightness and contrast
of an image to remove blurriness and to filter out noise.
Image measurement: The aim is to extract information about the distribution of the
sizes of the objects.
3. Segmentation: Segmentation subdivides an image into its constituent parts or objects.
The level to which this subdivision is carried depends upon the problem being solved.
Segmentation should stop when objects of interest in an application have been
isolated. In general, segmentation is one of the most difficult tasks in image
processing.
4. Representation and Description: Representation and Description follows the
outputs of segmentation stage which usually is raw pixel data constituting either the
boundary of a region or all points in the region itself. In either case, converting the
data to a form suitable for computer processing is necessary. The first decision that
must be made is whether data should be represented as a boundary or as a complete
region. Boundary representation is appropriate when the focus is on external shape
characteristics such as corners and inflections. Regional representation is appropriate
when focus is on internal properties such as texture or skeletal shape. Choosing a
representation is only part of solution for transforming raw data into a form suitable

for subsequent computer processing. A method must also be specified for describing
the data so that features of interest are highlighted.
Description also called feature selection deals with extracting attributes that result in
some quantitative information of interest or are basic for differentiating one class of
objects from another.
5. Recognition and Interpretation: Recognition is a process that assigns a label to an
object based on the information provided by its descriptors. Interpretation involves
assigning meaning to an ensemble of recognized objects.

Image Acquisition

Digitization
Quantization & Compression

Image enhancement and

restoration

Image Segmentation

Features Selection

Image Representation

Image Interpretation

Components of image processing system

1. An Image Capture Card: Matrox Meteor-II
2. High Resolution Image Display card - Matrox G400 or Similar.
3. A powerful Pentium III based IBM Computer.
4. Powerful Image Processing Software: Matrox MIL, Inspector.
5. High Resolution CCD Camera.
6. Image Storing and Editing software.
7. Cost effective Image Processing Software

Image Sensing: In this sensor arrangements used to transform illumination energy into digital
images.

An image sensor is a device that converts an optical image into an electronic signal. It is used
mostly in digital cameras and other imaging devices. Early sensors were video camera tubes but
a modern one is typically a charge-coupled device (CCD) or a complementary metaloxide
semiconductor (CMOS) active pixel sensor.

Image Sensor
Considerations of image sensor: Its speed, Resolution, Signal/Noise Ratio and Cost .