APPLICATION OF DIGITAL IMAGE-ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES TO PHOTOGRAPHIC FILM DEFECT TEST METHOD DEVELOPMENT

A simple, low-cost computer-based digital image system has been developed for quantitatively characterizing photographic film defects such as Starry Night, Pepper, reticulation, pinholes, and inferior dot quality. The system has applications in research and development laboratories, application laboratories, and in routine plant quality control testing. The system uses a Macintosh computer, microscope, high-resolution TV camera, frame grabber board, and image analysis software packages. For such film defects, the quantitative parameters of frequency, area, degree of roundness, and size are all reproducibly and rapidly calculated. This technique provides more quantitative and reproducible information than previous qualitative noninstrumented tests for these defects and can be applied to a wide variety of typical defects. The same system is also used to characterize physical defects, such as spots, streaks, and scratches, typically found in photographic films. The tests are rapid, accurate, and easy to use. Results, including enhanced images, can easily be retrieved from a computer database.