Ghost-Free High Dynamic Range Imaging Using Histogram Separation and Edge Preserving Denoising

Abstract

In this paper, we introduce a ghost-free High Dynamic Range imaging algorithm for obtaining ghost-free high dynamic
range (HDR) images. The multiple image fusion based HDR method work only on condition that there is no movement of
camera and object when capturing multiple, differently exposed low dynamic range (LDR) images. The proposed algorithm
makes three LDR images from a single input image to remove such an unrealistic condition. For this purpose a histogram
separation method is proposed in the algorithm for generating three LDR images by stretching each separated histogram.
An edge-preserving denoising technique is also proposed in the algorithm to suppress the noise that is amplified in the
stretching process. In the proposed algorithm final HDR image free from ghost artifacts in dynamic environment because it
self-generates three LDR images from a single input image. Therefore, the proposed algorithm can be use in mobile
phone camera and a consumer compact camera to provide the ghost artifacts free HDR images in the form of either inbuilt
or post-processing software application.