Photometric registration by adaptive high dynamic range image generation for augmented reality

Abstract

This paper describes photometric registration for augmented reality (AR) using a high-dynamic-range (HDR) image. In photorealistic AR, estimating the lighting environment of virtual objects is difficult because of low dynamic range cameras. In order to overcome this problem, we propose a method that estimates the lighting environment from an HDR image and renders virtual objects using an HDR environment map. Virtual objects are overlaid in real-time by adjusting the dynamic range of the rendered image with tone mapping according to the exposure time of the camera. The HDR image is generated from multiple images captured with various exposure times. We have found through experimentation that the updating rate is improved by effectively limiting the dynamic range, depending on the exposure time. We have verified the effect of limiting the dynamic range on the reality of virtual objects.