Multi-frame image denoising and stabilization

Abstract

We propose an image restoration approach based on fusing visually similar image blocks located in a single or in multiple image frames of the same scene. The proposed approach copes with misalignment between frames, as well as with the presence of outliers represented by moving objects in the scene. The main application targeted by the proposed approach is multi-frame image stabilization, which reduces the effect of unwanted camera motion during the image integration time by fusing multiple short exposed image frames of the scene. Due to their short exposure, the individual frames are noisy, but they are less corrupted by motion blur than it would be a single long exposed frame. The proposed approach is demonstrated through a series of experiments and comparisons. The results reveal the ability of the proposed method to improve the image quality by reducing noise and simulating longer exposure times.