Software Techniques for Image Processing

Abstract

The astronomical community has been involved in image processing for centuries. We have gone through a series of levels of sophostication in our image processing using the unaided eye, telescopes, photographic plates, image intensifiers, television type sensors and computers. All of these devices have been developed and used in order to obtain a “better” image. For each of us the word “better” has had many meanings. For example; higher spatial resolution, fainter limiting magnitude, higher signal to noise ratio, greater dynamic range, more uniform photometric response, greater spectral response, etc. It is stating the obvious to say that no single device and/or image processing system can satisfy all of these desires for a better image simultaneously.