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Department of Data Communication Networks and Systems

Lecturer Shukhrat Palvanov

Continuous Fourier analysis,

Fourier transform

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What is color?

  • The result of interaction between physical light in the environment and our visual system.
  • A psychological property of our visual experiences when we look at objects and lights, not a physical property of those objects or lights.

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Color and light

Color of light arriving at camera depends on

– Spectral reflectance of the surface light is leaving

– Spectral radiance of light falling on that patch

Color perceived depends on

– Physics of light

– Visual system receptors

– Brain processing, environment

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Color and light

White light:

composed of about equal energy in all wavelengths of the visible spectrum

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The Eye

The human eye is a camera!

Iris - colored annulus with radial muscles

Pupil - the hole (aperture) whose size is controlled by the iris

Lens - changes shape by using ciliary muscles (to focus on objects at different distances)

Retina - photoreceptor cells

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Types of light-sensitive receptors

Cones

cone-shaped less sensitive operate in high light color vision

Rods

rod-shaped highly sensitive operate at night gray-scale vision

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Types of cones

• React only to some wavelengths, with different sensitivity (light fraction absorbed)

• Brain fuses responses from local neighborhood of several cones for perceived color

• Sensitivities vary per person, and with age

• Color blindness: deficiency in at least one type of cone

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Color mixing

Cartoon spectra for color names:

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Additive color mixing

Colored lights are mixed using additive color properties. Light colors are combining two or more additive colors together which creates a lighter color that is closer to white.

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Examples of additive color systems

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Subtractive color mixing

When we mix colors using paint, or through the printing process, we are using the subtractive color method. Subtractive color mixing means that one begins with white and ends with black; as one adds color, the result gets darker and tends to black

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RGB color space

  • Single wavelength primaries
  • Good for devices (e.g., phosphors for monitor), but not for perception

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HSV color space

A cylindrical coordinate representation of points in an RGB color model

– Hue, Saturation, Value

– Nonlinear – reflects topology of colors by coding hue as an angle

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RGB to HSV

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HSV to RGB

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RGB to Gray

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Color-based image retrieval

Given collection (database) of images:

– Extract and store one color histogram per image

Given new query image:

– Extract its color histogram

– For each database image:

Compute intersection between query histogram and database histogram

– Sort intersection values (highest score = most similar)

– Rank database items relative to query based on this sorted order

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What is edge?

Edges in images are areas with strong intensity contrasts. Infact edge is a jump in intensity from one pixel/region to the next.

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What is edge detection?

Edge detection is a terminology in image processing and computer vision, particularly in the areas of feature detection and feature extraction, to refer to algorithms which aim at identifying points in a digital image at which the image brightness changes sharply or more formally has discontinuities.

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Why we do need edge detection?

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What is Fourier Transform (FT)?�

A powerful mathematical tool that converts a signal or image from the spatial (time/space) domain into the frequency domain.

Instead of analyzing the values of pixels directly, FT focuses on how often intensity values change.

Basic Idea

  • Any complex signal or image can be expressed as a sum of simple sinusoidal components (sines and cosines).
  • Low frequencies correspond to smooth variations (background, illumination).
  • High frequencies correspond to rapid changes (edges, textures, noise).

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Importance of FT in Image Processing�

  • Provides an alternative view of the image for analysis.
  • Makes filtering (blurring, sharpening, noise removal) easier and more effective.
  • Used in compression (JPEG), image enhancement, pattern recognition, and medical imaging.
  • Helps separate important information (edges, structures) from redundant details or noise.

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Mathematical Background�Fourier Series vs Fourier Transform�

Fourier Series: Represents periodic signals as a sum of sinusoids.

Fourier Transform (FT): Extends the concept to non-periodic signals.

In image processing, signals (images) are generally non-periodic → FT is used.

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2D Fourier Transform�

  • Images are 2D signals, so 2D Fourier Transform is used to analyze them.
  • Converts an image f(x,y) in spatial domain into its frequency representation F(u,v).

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2D Fourier Transform

Interpretation

  • Low-frequency components → smooth variations (illumination, background).
  • High-frequency components → rapid changes (edges, noise, details).
  • Center of Fourier spectrum = low frequencies, edges = high frequencies.

Why Important?

  • Allows filtering in the frequency domain (e.g., removing noise, enhancing edges).
  • Provides a new perspective on image analysis.

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Fourier Transform Properties

1. Linearity

FT of a sum = Sum of FTs

Useful for combining signals.

2. Shift Property

A shift in spatial domain → phase change in frequency domain.

Image translation does not affect magnitude spectrum.

3. Scaling (Dilation)

Enlarging an image in spatial domain shrinks its spectrum in frequency domain.

Compression in spatial domain expands the spectrum.

4. Convolution Theorem

Convolution in spatial domain = Multiplication in frequency domain.

Very useful for image filtering (blurring, sharpening).

5. Symmetry

For real-valued images, the Fourier spectrum is symmetric.

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Frequency Representation of Images

Key Concept

An image can be expressed as a combination of low-frequency and high-frequency components.

Fourier Transform separates these components clearly.

Low Frequencies

Located near the center of Fourier spectrum.

Represent smooth intensity variations (background, lighting, gradual changes).

Carry the overall structure of the image.

High Frequencies

Located at the edges of the spectrum.

Represent rapid intensity changes (edges, fine details, noise).

Important for sharpness and texture.

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Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT)

Why DFT?

  • Images are digital and consist of discrete pixels.
  • Continuous Fourier Transform cannot be applied directly.
  • Therefore, Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT) is used.

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Visualization of Fourier Spectrum

Magnitude and Phase

  • Magnitude Spectrum: shows the strength of frequencies.
  • Phase Spectrum: carries positional information of structures.
  • Both are necessary for accurate image reconstruction.

Log Transformation

  • Raw Fourier spectrum has very high dynamic range.
  • Apply log transform to make low-intensity details visible.

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Thank you