Introduction

Report on Image Artifacts
Introduction
Image artifacts refer to visual distortions or inaccuracies that appear in digital images, often
as a result of the process of image compression, transmission errors, or limitations in imaging
hardware and software. These artifacts can degrade the quality of an image and hinder its
intended use. Understanding and mitigating image artifacts is crucial in fields like medical
imaging, digital photography, computer vision, and digital media production.
This report explores the causes, types, and effects of image artifacts, as well as techniques for
detection, prevention, and correction.
Causes of Image Artifacts
Image artifacts can arise from several sources during the process of capturing, processing, or
displaying an image. The most common causes include:
1. Compression:
o Lossy compression algorithms, such as JPEG, reduce the file size by
discarding some image information, leading to visible artifacts like blurring or
pixelation.
o Lossless compression formats (e.g., PNG) are less prone to artifacts but can
still exhibit some distortions in cases of severe compression.
2. Transmission Errors:
o Inaccurate transmission of image data over networks or through media can
result in corrupted image files, leading to artifacts like noise or incorrect pixel
values.
o Errors can be caused by packet loss, interference, or digital signal processing
malfunctions.
3. Sensor Limitations:
o The physical limitations of image sensors, such as insufficient resolution or
dynamic range, can create artifacts such as noise, color banding, or sensor
bloom (light bleeding).
4. Post-Processing:
o Digital image processing techniques like scaling, sharpening, and filtering can
introduce artifacts if not executed carefully, especially when extreme
adjustments are made.
o For example, aggressive noise reduction may lead to a loss of detail or the
introduction of unwanted blurring.
5. Hardware and Display Limitations:
o Display devices, especially older or lower-resolution screens, can introduce
artifacts in the form of color shifts, pixel grid patterns, and aliasing.
o Faulty cameras or lenses can lead to optical artifacts, such as chromatic
aberration (color fringing) or barrel distortion (curved lines at the edges of the
image).
Types of Image Artifacts
There are various types of image artifacts, each with distinct characteristics:
1. Compression Artifacts:
o Blockiness: The image is divided into blocks that become visible, particularly
in JPEG images with high compression. Each block appears as a pixelated
square, especially in areas with subtle gradients.
o Ringing: This artifact appears as halo-like distortions around edges or sharp
transitions in the image, typically caused by aggressive compression or poor
quality filters.
o Posterization: The smooth transition of colors or shades is reduced to distinct
bands, particularly in images with subtle gradients. This can occur due to
excessive quantization during compression.
2. Noise:
o Gaussian Noise: Random variations in pixel values, typically caused by
sensor limitations or environmental factors like low light conditions. This
appears as random speckles of color.
o Salt-and-Pepper Noise: Occurs when pixels are randomly set to either black
or white, resembling salt and pepper grains in an image.
3. Aliasing:
o When high-frequency details in an image exceed the sampling rate of the
image sensor, aliasing artifacts occur. This manifests as jagged or stair-stepped
lines (known as "jaggies") rather than smooth curves or edges.
4. Color Artifacts:
o Color Banding: Gradients in color appear as distinct bands instead of a
smooth transition, caused by insufficient bit depth or poor color compression.
o Chromatic Aberration: This occurs when different wavelengths of light
(colors) fail to converge at the same point, often seen as color fringing around
high-contrast edges, especially in photographs taken with certain lenses.
5. Moiré Patterns:
o Moiré patterns arise when a digital image is sampled at a lower resolution than
the original, causing an interference pattern that can resemble wavy lines or
grids. It often occurs when scanning images with fine details or patterns.
6. Ghosting and Halo Effects:
o These artifacts appear as blurred or duplicate images that overlap or surround
an object, commonly seen in digital photographs due to motion blur, or
improper alignment of multiple frames in video compression.
7. Lens Distortions:
o These distortions arise from the camera's lens, such as barrel or pincushion
distortion. In barrel distortion, straight lines curve outward from the center,
while in pincushion distortion, lines bend inward.
Effects of Image Artifacts
Image artifacts can significantly affect the usability of an image, especially in fields where
precision is critical. Some potential effects include:
1. Decreased Image Quality:

o Artifacts can lead to a reduction in the overall aesthetic or functional quality of
an image. This is particularly detrimental in applications such as digital
photography, where clarity and detail are crucial.
2. Loss of Detail:
o In medical imaging or scientific analysis, the presence of artifacts can obscure
important details, leading to misinterpretations or diagnostic errors.
3. Inaccurate Representation:
o Artifacts may distort the true appearance of objects, colors, and textures,
which can be problematic for applications like remote sensing, satellite
imaging, or art reproduction.
4. User Experience Degradation:
o In user-facing applications, such as streaming, video games, or web content,
image artifacts can degrade the user experience, leading to frustration or loss
of engagement.
Detection and Mitigation of Image Artifacts
1. Prevention During Capture:

o Using high-quality equipment, appropriate lighting conditions, and proper
camera settings can help minimize artifacts at the source.
o Proper calibration of image sensors and lenses can also reduce the occurrence
of optical artifacts like chromatic aberration or lens distortions.
2. Advanced Compression Techniques:
o Modern compression algorithms, such as WebP or HEIF, aim to reduce
artifacts by using advanced techniques that preserve image quality while
minimizing file size.
o Lossless compression, though less space-efficient, can prevent most artifacts
from occurring.
3. Noise Reduction Algorithms:
o Image denoising techniques, such as median filters, bilateral filtering, or deep
learning-based methods, can effectively remove noise without introducing
unwanted blurring or loss of detail.
o Noise reduction is especially important in low-light photography or scientific
imaging.
4. Post-Processing Tools:
o Using image editing software (e.g., Adobe Photoshop, GIMP) can help correct
certain artifacts like color banding or lens distortions through manual or
automatic corrections.
o Advanced software solutions also incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) and
machine learning to restore lost details and reduce artifacts effectively.
5. Image Super-Resolution:
o Super-resolution techniques, often powered by deep learning, can reconstruct
high-resolution images from lower-quality sources, reducing artifacts like
pixelation or blurriness.Conclusion
Done by : Saja Bassam Albarri

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Report on Image Artifacts

Causes of Image Artifacts

Effects of Image Artifacts

1. Decreased Image Quality:

Detection and Mitigation of Image Artifacts

1. Prevention During Capture:

Done by : Saja Bassam Albarri

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