Color Cast Correction Mechanisms: Techniques and Innovations for Image Enhancement

*Nadia Garg

*Ravi Jain

Raksha Sharma

*Research Scholar, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, India

Assistant Professor, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, India

Abstract:

This paper presents an in-depth examination of color cast in digital images, elucidating its fundamental principles, generation mechanisms, and real-world implications influenced by light absorption and scattering. The study explores diverse color cast correction methods and provides a detailed analysis of their respective outcomes. Foundational knowledge of color cast, rooted in the principles of light interaction, serves as the basis for understanding its manifestation in various real-world contexts. The research systematically investigates the intricate dynamics of color cast across diverse scenarios, shedding light on its complexities and impact. The paper evaluates a range of color cast correction techniques, including classic approaches such as the Gray World Algorithm, Max–RGB, and White Balance Correction, as well as advanced methods like Gamma Correction, Histogram-Based Method, and the Gray Edge Algorithm. Notably, simulation results underscore the consistent superiority of the Gray Edge Algorithm in effectively correcting color cast, showcasing its robustness across diverse scenarios. This comprehensive exploration contributes to a holistic understanding of color cast, covering its generation, consequences in real-world scenarios, and an in-depth analysis of correction methodologies. The findings provide valuable insights for professionals in image processing and computer vision seeking efficient correction strategies.

Keywords: Color cast, Image processing, Color correction, Light interaction, Real-world scenarios.

References:

  1. Ni and F. Yang, “Detection and Reduction of JPEG Color Cast,” 2023 International Conference on Ubiquitous Communication (Ucom), Xi’an, China, 2023, pp. 188-192, doi: 10.1109/Ucom59132.2023.10257631.
  2. Li, J. Guo and C. Guo, “Emerging From Water: Underwater Image Color Correction Based on Weakly Supervised Color Transfer,” in IEEE Signal Processing Letters, vol. 25, no. 3, pp. 323-327, March 2018, doi: 10.1109/LSP.2018.2792050.
  3. Liang, X. Ding, J. Jin, Y. Wang, Y. Wang and X. Fu, “A Color Cast Image Enhancement Method Based on Affine Transform in Poor Visible Conditions,” in IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Letters, vol. 19, pp. 1-5, 2022, Art no. 1503905, doi: 10.1109/LGRS.2022.3156264.
  4. Huo, Z. Wu and J. Li, “Underwater Image Restoration Based on Color Correction and Red Channel Prior,” 2018 IEEE International Conference on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics (SMC), Miyazaki, Japan, 2018, pp. 3975-3980, doi: 10.1109/SMC.2018.00674.
  5. Kanagavel, P. Sivakumar and S. Bama, “Image Fusion Based Selective Optimal Restoration of Colors in Single Underwater Images,” 2021 International Symposium on Ocean Technology (SYMPOL), Kochi, India, 2021, pp. 1-6, doi: 10.1109/SYMPOL53555.2021.9689288.
  6. Kanti Dhara, M. Roy, D. Sen and P. Kumar Biswas, “Color Cast Dependent Image Dehazing via Adaptive Airlight Refinement and Non-Linear Color Balancing,” in IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems for Video Technology, vol. 31, no. 5, pp. 2076-2081, May 2021, doi: 10.1109/TCSVT.2020.3007850.
  7. Sun et al., “Underwater Color Correction via Deep Reinforcement Learning,” OCEANS 2021: San Diego – Porto, San Diego, CA, USA, 2021, pp. 1-4, doi: 10.23919/OCEANS44145.2021.9706132.
  8. Yadav and K. Raj, “Underwater Image Enhancement via Color Balance and Stationary Wavelet Based Fusion,” 2020 IEEE International Conference for Innovation in Technology (INOCON), Bangluru, India, 2020, pp. 1-5, doi: 10.1109/INOCON50539.2020.9298231.
  9. B. Tephila, B. M. Shankar, S. Abhinandhan, K. K. Arjun, P. M. Aswini and C. D. Priya, “An Experimental Approach in Colour Correction and Contrast Improvement for Underwater Images,” 2022 Second International Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Smart Energy (ICAIS), Coimbatore, India, 2022, pp. 607-613, doi: 10.1109/ICAIS53314.2022.9742723.
  10. Zhou, D. Zhang, W. Ren and W. Zhang, “Auto Color Correction of Underwater Images Utilizing Depth Information,” in IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Letters, vol. 19, pp. 1-5, 2022, Art no. 1504805, doi: 10.1109/LGRS.2022.3170702.
  11. [11] Li, P. Zhuang, W. Wei and J. Li, “Underwater Image Enhancement Based on Dehazing and Color Correction,” 2019 IEEE Intl Conf on Parallel & Distributed Processing with Applications, Big Data & Cloud Computing, Sustainable Computing & Communications, Social Computing & Networking (ISPA/BDCloud/SocialCom/SustainCom), Xiamen, China, 2019, pp. 1365-1370, doi: 10.1109/ISPA-BDCloud-SustainCom-SocialCom48970.2019.00196.
  12. S. Islam, M. A. Hossain and M. A. Mamun, “An Improved Approach for Underwater Image Enhancement Through Color Correction, Contrast Synthesis and Dehazing,” 2019 International Conference on Computer, Communication, Chemical, Materials and Electronic Engineering (IC4ME2), Rajshahi, Bangladesh, 2019, pp. 1-4, doi: 10.1109/IC4ME247184.2019.9036611.
  13. Fan, X. Liu, Z. Gao, W. Chi and X. Guo, “Scale-adaptive and Color-corrected Retinex Defogging Algorithm,” 2019 3rd International Conference on Electronic Information Technology and Computer Engineering (EITCE), Xiamen, China, 2019, pp. 1080-1084, doi: 10.1109/EITCE47263.2019.9095049.
  14. Bhagyasri, G. Prasannakumar and P. S. N. Murthy, “Underwater Image Enhancement Using SWT Based Image Fusion and Colour Correction,” 2019 International Conference on Intelligent Computing and Control Systems (ICCS), Madurai, India, 2019, pp. 749-754, doi: 10.1109/ICCS45141.2019.9065524.
  15. Zhang, S. Jin, P. Zhuang, Z. Liang and C. Li, “Underwater Image Enhancement via Piecewise Color Correction and Dual Prior Optimized Contrast Enhancement,” in IEEE Signal Processing Letters, vol. 30, pp. 229-233, 2023, doi: 10.1109/LSP.2023.3255005.
  16. Wang, L. Shen, Y. Lin, M. Li and Q. Zhao, “Joint Iterative Color Correction and Dehazing for Underwater Image Enhancement,” in IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters, vol. 6, no. 3, pp. 5121-5128, July 2021, doi: 10.1109/LRA.2021.3070253.
  17. Lin, Z. Li, F. Zheng, Q. Zhao and S. Li, “Underwater Image Enhancement Based on Adaptive Color Correction and Improved Retinex Algorithm,” in IEEE Access, vol. 11, pp. 27620-27630, 2023, doi: 10.1109/ACCESS.2023.3258698.
  18. Iqbal, M. Odetayo, A. James, Rosalina Abdul Salam and Abdullah Zawawi Hj Talib, “Enhancing the low quality images using Unsupervised Colour Correction Method,” 2010 IEEE International Conference on Systems, Man and Cybernetics, Istanbul, Turkey, 2010, pp. 1703-1709, doi: 10.1109/ICSMC.2010.5642311.
  19. C. Hung and C. -L. Chen, “A fuzzy inference model for removing the color cast of digitally captured images under unknown illuminants,” 2012 International conference on Fuzzy Theory and Its Applications (iFUZZY2012), Taichung, Taiwan, 2012, pp. 192-197, doi: 10.1109/iFUZZY.2012.6409699.
  20. Purnima and C. S. Kumar, “Gradient-Based Design Metrics for Assessment of Underwater Image Enhancement,” 2023 International Conference on Self Sustainable Artificial Intelligence Systems (ICSSAS), Erode, India, 2023, pp. 783-788, doi: 10.1109/ICSSAS57918.2023.10331789.
  21. Purnima and C. S. Kumar, “Non-Gradient Based Design Metrics for Underwater Image Enhancement,” 2023 International Conference on Self Sustainable Artificial Intelligence Systems (ICSSAS), Erode, India, 2023, pp. 817-823, doi: 10.1109/ICSSAS57918.2023.10331864.
  22. Sivanihimaja and E. S. Reddy, “Multiscale Fusion for Underwater Image Enhancement,” International Journal of Emerging Research in Engineering, Science, and Management, vol. 1, no. 2. JPM Publishers, 2022. doi: 10.58482/ijeresm.v1i2.5.
  23. Sravani and Dr. S. V. P. Devi, “Light Attenuation Prior based Underwater Image Enhancement,” International Journal of Emerging Research in Engineering, Science, and Management, vol. 1, no. 2. JPM Publishers, 2022. doi: 10.58482/ijeresm.v1i2.3.