Analytical approach to the optimal linear matrix with comprehensive error metric

Abstract

In digital color imaging, the color information of objects should be reproduced as accurate as possible (unless preferred color reproduction is demanded), on the other side, the intrinsic imaging noise will propagate to the captured image and affect the final image quality. Previous studies have not shown how the color accuracy or noise reduction should be emphasized. Both the noise performance and color accuracy performance should be balanced in order to achieve better total perceived image quality. In this paper, a new comprehensive error metric that is a flexible trade-off between color accuracy and RMS noise is proposed. The linear matrix that converts the device signals to device independent color signals is analytically optimized by minimizing this comprehensive error metric. By changing the weights to the color and noise components, one can expect a reproduced image that achieves better color accuracy yet more noise, or an image that has worse color accurate but less noise, depending on applications and capture conditions. The analytical approach presents a full perspective of the color and noise characteristics in digital color imaging devices.