Multi-exposure images coding for efficient high dynamic range image compression

Abstract

High dynamic range (HDR) images attract growing attention in many practical applications by offering an extended dynamic range, and an improved visual experience accordingly. Because of the expense and rarity of HDR cameras, many studies generate HDR images using several low dynamic range (LDR) images with different exposures. In this paper, we propose a technique to compress the multi-exposure images in an efficient way. Then HDR image generation, as well as multi-exposure fusion can be realized in the decoder. The multi-exposure images are encoded by MV-HEVC and the inter-view redundancy will be well exploited by converting the intensity of the reconstructed base view with the help of an accurate intensity-mapping function. Compared to the scenario by encoding the generated HDR image with HEVC range extension, experimental results show that the proposed technique achieves better coding efficiency.