Texture compression

Abstract: We present a simple image-based method of generating novel visual appearance in which a new image is synthesized by stitching together small patches of existing images. We call this process image quilting. First, we use quilting as a fast and very simple texture synthesis algorithm which produces surprisingly good results for a wide range of textures. Second, we extend the algorithm to perform texture transfer — rendering an object with a texture taken from a different object. More generally, we demonstrate how an image can be re-rendered in the style of a different image. The method works directly on the images and does not require 3D information.

Abstract: Data stored on disks and tapes or transferred over communications links in commercial computer systems generally contains significant redundancy. A mechanism or procedure which recodes the data to lessen the redundancy could possibly double or triple the effective data densitites in stored or communicated data. Moreover, if compression is automatic, it can also aid in the rise of software development costs. A transparent compression mechanism could permit the use of "sloppy" data structures, in that empty space or sparse encoding of data would not greatly expand the use of storage space or transfer time; however , that requires a good compression procedure. Several problems encountered when common compression methods are integrated into computer systems have prevented the widespread use of automatic data compression. For example (1) poor runtime execution speeds interfere in the attainment of very high data rates; (2) most compression techniques are not flexible enough to process different types of redundancy; (3) blocks of compressed data that have unpredictable lengths present storage space management problems. Each compression ' This article was written while Welch was employed at Sperry Research Center; he is now employed with Digital Equipment Corporation. 8 m, 2 /R4/OflAb l strategy poses a different set of these problems and, consequently , the use of each strategy is restricted to applications where its inherent weaknesses present no critical problems. This article introduces a new compression algorithm that is based on principles not found in existing commercial methods. This algorithm avoids many of the problems associated with older methods in that it dynamically adapts to the redundancy characteristics of the data being compressed. An investigation into possible application of this algorithm yields insight into the compressibility of various types of data and serves to illustrate system problems inherent in using any compression scheme. For readers interested in simple but subtle procedures, some details of this algorithm and its implementations are also described. The focus throughout this article will be on transparent compression in which the computer programmer is not aware of the existence of compression except in system performance. This form of compression is "noiseless," the decompressed data is an exact replica of the input data, and the compression apparatus is given no special program information, such as data type or usage statistics. Transparency is perceived to be important because putting an extra burden on the application programmer would cause

Abstract: This paper describes a new framework for processing images by example, called “image analogies.” The framework involves two stages: a design phase, in which a pair of images, with one image purported to be a “filtered” version of the other, is presented as “training data”; and an application phase, in which the learned filter is applied to some new target image in order to create an “analogous” filtered result. Image analogies are based on a simple multi-scale autoregression, inspired primarily by recent results in texture synthesis. By choosing different types of source image pairs as input, the framework supports a wide variety of “image filter” effects, including traditional image filters, such as blurring or embossing; improved texture synthesis, in which some textures are synthesized with higher quality than by previous approaches; super-resolution, in which a higher-resolution image is inferred from a low-resolution source; texture transfer, in which images are “texturized” with some arbitrary source texture; artistic filters, in which various drawing and painting styles are synthesized based on scanned real-world examples; and texture-by-numbers, in which realistic scenes, composed of a variety of textures, are created using a simple painting interface.

Abstract: Data compression is one of the most important fields and tools in modern computing. From archiving data, to CD ROMs, and from coding theory to image analysis, many facets of modern computing rely upon data compression. Data Compression provides a comprehensive reference for the many different types and methods of compression. Included are a detailed and helpful taxonomy, analysis of most common methods, and discussions on the use and comparative benefits of methods and description of "how to" use them. The presentation is organized into the main branches of the field of data compression: run length encoding, statistical methods, dictionary-based methods, image compression, audio compression, and video compression. Detailed descriptions and explanations of the most well-known and frequently used compression methods are covered in a self-contained fashion, with an accessible style and technical level for specialists and nonspecialists. Topics and features: coverage of video compression, including MPEG-1 and H.261 thorough coverage of wavelets methods, including CWT, DWT, EZW and the new Lifting Scheme technique complete audio compression QM coder used in JPEG and JBIG, including new JPEG 200 standard image transformations and detailed coverage of discrete cosine transform and Haar transform coverage of EIDAC method for compressing simple images prefix image compression ACB and FHM curve compression geometric compression and edgebreaker technique.Data Compression provides an invaluable reference and guide for all computer scientists, computer engineers, electrical engineers, signal/image processing engineers and other scientists needing a comprehensive compilation for a broad range of compression methods.