Since its inception, integrating image processing into intelligent systems has been a recurring goal for AI researchers. It needed a lot of manual input during its early stages so that computers could receive instructions and produce something. These machines, often called Expert Systems, were taught how to identify pictures.

More than just image recognition is what we want the machines to be able to do. The development of artificial intelligence has aided engineers in creating software that can accurately mimic the human ability to see, comprehend, identify, and explain visual and video content.

Automated digital analysis includes important components for image processing. In particular, computer vision approaches for image processing assist robots in extracting insights similar to those of humans from digital data.

There are two ways to process images: image processing is modifying an image to make it larger and produce information. 

• Analog image processing is applied to photos, printouts, and other tangible copies of images.
• Digital image processing employs sophisticated algorithms to modify digital images.

The Primary Goal Of Image Processing

• Giving processed data a visual representation that is easy to interpret, such as providing invisible objects a form.
• Image sharpening and restoration are effective ways to boost the quality of the processed image.
• Image convalescence aids in image search.
• Aids in measuring image-based items.
• With pattern recognition, it is simple to categorize the items in an image, pinpoint where they are located, and gain a general understanding of the scene.

Phases of Image Processing

For step-by-step image processing, there are 8 phases:

1. Capturing An Image

It uses a sensor to capture and transform the image into a usable format.

2. Image Improvement

The quality of the input image is raised, and hidden features are extracted.

3. Image Retouching

Based on probabilistic and mathematical models, any potential contamination, such as blur, noise, or camera misfocus, is eliminated to obtain a clearer picture.

4. Processing Images In Color

Pseudocolor or RGB processing methods process colored images in various color spaces.

5. Decompression And Compression Of Images

This enables image resolution and size adjustments, allowing for image reduction or restoration.

6. Morphological Manipulation

Defines the shape and structure of the objects in the picture.

7. Image Identification

Methods like object detection are used to discover an object’s details in an image.

Representation And Description

The main goal of representation and description is to visualize the transformed data.

Processing enormous amounts of data manually are challenging. Algorithms for machine learning and artificial intelligence can be quite helpful in this situation. the application of ML and AI to accelerate data processing and produce high-quality image results. Of course, you must select the appropriate equipment and techniques to produce outcomes of the highest caliber.

Tools, Methods, And Approaches For Image Processing

Preprocessing is required because some of the pictures taken with conventional sensors could be out of focus or have too much noise. Two detection methods can be applied to the preprocessing of digital photos.

Filtering

Utilized to enhance and change the input image. Using the numerous filters available, you can highlight or subtract specific aspects of the image, reduce noise, etc.

Edge Recognition

Used to locate significant object edges in the preprocessed pictures for data extraction and image segmentation.

Frameworks and libraries can simplify the implementation of image processing features.

AI-Based Image Processing Open-Source Libraries

Common image processing techniques and functions can be found in computer vision libraries. Several open-source libraries are available to create image processing and computer vision features.

OpenCV

OpenCV is a well-liked computer vision library that offers a variety of algorithms and functions to support the algorithms. The modules for object detection, machine learning, and image processing are a few of the many that it includes. This package can carry out picture processing operations like image acquisition, compression, enhancement, restoration, and data extraction.

VXL

The VXL library is a collection of computer vision libraries incorporating several well-known algorithms and related features.

AForge.NET

AForge.NET is a computer vision library that includes a variety of libraries that can be used for everything from fuzzy calculations and neural networks to image processing and computer vision. AForge.NET also offers a set of sample apps and help files that show how to utilize this framework.

LTI-Lib

The LTI-Lib package offers quick algorithms for practical applications while making exchanging and maintaining code simpler.

It offers a variety of tools for classifying data, several image processing and computer vision techniques, and several features that can be utilized to solve mathematical problems.

Conclusion

Every industry has a huge opportunity to apply AI-based picture processing. It depends on how you want to utilize it to the fullest. Using AI algorithms, machines can be taught to analyze photos for a specific task based on the requirements.