Just-noticeable difference estimation with pixels in images

Perceptual visibility threshold estimation, based upon characteristics of the human visual system (HVS), is widely used in digital image and video processing. We propose in this paper a scheme for estimating JND (just-noticeable difference) with explicit formulation for image pixels, by summing the effects of the visual thresholds in sub-bands. The factors being considered include spatial contrast sensitivity function (CSF), luminance adaptation, and adaptive inter- and intra-band contrast masking. The proposed scheme demonstrates favorable results in noise shaping and perceptual visual distortion gauge for different images, in comparison with the relevant existing JND estimators. (C) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.