Enhanced HDR Image Rendering Method using Visual Acuity Based Edge Separation

iCAM06 is a high dynamic range (HDR) imaging technology. However, the base-detail separation, chromatic adaptation, and tone compression algorithms included in iCAM06 cause problems in image quality. This study focuses on the desaturation, poor contrast, and noise problems found in the dark regions. First, we discuss desaturation compensation using the visual acuity characteristics for various illuminant levels. The edge stop function of the bilateral filter in the iCAM06 method is adaptively modified according to the illuminant information. Second, in order to reduce the magnified noise in the dark regions due to tone compression, the shadow regions are detected by an object’s intensity and illuminant level, and the noise of the detected regions is then reduced using a luminance-adaptive coring function. Finally, we confirmed that the color saturation and image contrast are enhanced and the noise reduced for dark objects through the use of the proposed methods.