Case Study
Case Study
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2. Thresholding: Once the image is decomposed into approximation and detail subbands,
noise is mostly concentrated in the high-frequency components. Therefore, the next step
is to threshold the high-frequency coefficients to remove the noise:
o Hard Thresholding: In this approach, if the wavelet coefficient is smaller than a
certain threshold, it is set to zero. This technique can be simple but might cause
abrupt changes, which could introduce artifacts in the reconstructed image.
o Soft Thresholding: In soft thresholding, the coefficients are shrunk toward zero by
a fixed amount, which smooths the result but avoids sharp changes. This is often
more effective in preserving the continuity of the image.
o Adaptive Thresholding: More sophisticated methods involve adjusting the
threshold for each coefficient depending on its location or its context in the image.
3. Wavelet Reconstruction: After thresholding the high-frequency components, the next
step is to reconstruct the image from the modified wavelet coefficients. The Inverse
Discrete Wavelet Transform (IDWT) is applied to the approximation and thresholded
detail coefficients to form the denoised image.
4. Fine-Tuning the Threshold: The thresholding value is one of the most critical factors in
the success of wavelet-based denoising. An inappropriate threshold value may either
leave too much noise or suppress important image features. Various strategies can be used
to select an optimal threshold, such as:
o Universal Thresholding: A simple method based on a mathematical formula that
provides a threshold value based on the noise level in the image.
o Bayesian Thresholding: A more advanced technique that considers both the noise
characteristics and the image content, providing a more adaptive and optimized
threshold value.
Step-by-Step Image Denoising Process Using Wavelet Transform:
1. Input: A noisy image is provided, where the noise is usually modeled as Gaussian noise
or salt-and-pepper noise.
2. Wavelet Decomposition:
o The image is decomposed using Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT) into
approximation coefficients (low-frequency) and detailed coefficients (high-
frequency).
Vedant Wadu (221080073)
Batch-C
TY B.Tech
o For example, using Daubechies wavelets (db2, db4, etc.), which are commonly
used in image processing for their good balance of smoothness and compact
support.
3. Thresholding of High-Frequency Coefficients:
o Apply thresholding to the high-frequency coefficients to suppress the noise. The
threshold value can be determined through a fixed or adaptive strategy, depending
on the noise characteristics.
o Hard or soft thresholding methods are applied to remove coefficients that are likely
due to noise.
4. Inverse Wavelet Transform (IDWT):
o After thresholding, the image is reconstructed by applying the Inverse Discrete
Wavelet Transform (IDWT) to the modified coefficients (approximation and
detail).
o This produces the denoised image, which should exhibit less noise while retaining
important structures like edges.
5. Output: The output is a denoised image with less noise and preserved features, such as
edges and textures.
• Adaptability: Wavelet transforms can be customized to suit different types of noise (e.g.,
Gaussian, salt-and-pepper, speckle), and the thresholding step can be adjusted based on
the type of image and the characteristics of the noise.
• Robust to Different Noise Types: While Gaussian noise is commonly dealt with,
wavelet denoising can also be adapted to remove other types of noise, including impulse
noise or speckle noise, by modifying the thresholding function.
Example of Application:
Imagine a medical imaging scenario, where MRI scans or X-rays are taken with high noise due
to various factors (e.g., machine imperfections or transmission errors). Using wavelet-based
denoising, we can:
• Apply the DWT to decompose the noisy medical image.
• Threshold the high-frequency components to remove the noise.
• Reconstruct the denoised image while preserving crucial details like edges of anatomical
structures.
This technique ensures that the features needed for accurate diagnosis (such as the edges of
tumors or blood vessels) are not lost during the denoising process, unlike traditional methods
that might blur or smooth such important structures.
Conclusion:
Wavelet-based image denoising is an effective technique that allows for the removal of noise
from an image while preserving important structural features. By decomposing the image into
various frequency components and selectively thresholding the high-frequency components,
wavelet transforms offer a sophisticated method for noise reduction that traditional filtering
techniques cannot match. The multiresolution nature of wavelets provides a powerful tool for
tackling noise in various types of images, making this technique invaluable for a wide range of
image processing applications.