An image contrast enhancement algorithm for grayscale images using particle swarm optimization

Abstract

This paper addresses a contrast enhancement technique that combines classical contrast enhancement with an evolutionary approach. The central goal of this work is to increase the information content and enhance the details of an image using an adaptive gamma correction technique aided by particle swarm optimization. Gamma correction is a well established technique that preserves the mean brightness of an image that produces natural looking images by the choice of an optimal gamma value. Here, Swarm intelligence based particle swarm optimization is employed to estimate an optimal gamma value. In the proposed method, the edge and information content (entropy) are the parameters used to formulate the fitness function. The proposed method is compared with state-of-the-art of techniques in terms of Weighted Average Peak Signal to Noise Ratio (WPSNR), Contrast, Homogeneity, Contrast Noise Ratio (CNR), and Measure of Enhancement (EME). Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed particle swarm optimization based contrast enhancement method improves the overall image contrast and enriches the information present in the image. In comparison to other contrast enhancement techniques, the proposed method brings out the hidden details of an image and is more suitable for applications in satellite imaging and night vision.