Nonuniformity Correction in grayscale and color chart modules

Imatest can correct for nonuniform illumination and lens response (vignetting) in Imatest modules that analyze grayscale and/or color charts, including Color/Tone Setup (formerly Multicharts), Color/Tone Auto (formerly Multitest), Colorcheck, and Stepchart. Nonuniformity correction involves reading and specifying a second image, taken from a flat-field target (plain gray or white) under identical conditions to the test image. 

Note that the correction described in this page is not the same as nonuniformity correction for slanted-edge MTF measurements. Not also that Multicharts (a highly interactive module) and Multitest (a batch-capable fixed version of Multicharts) are recommended for new work. Colorcheck and Stepchart are older, less versatile modules that will be maintained because they have a large user base. 

Introduction

Imatest test images are often unevenly illuminated, sometimes because the test setup is inadequate (because of limited space or non-optimum lighting). Many widely-used viewing booths, such as the one shown on the right, are not uniformly illuminated (they’re visibly brighter on the top).

This nonuniformity can be worsened by vignetting (light falloff), which is especially prominent in wide-angle lenses. A good example of systems with serious nonuniformities is medical endoscopes with built-in illumination. There is usually a strongly falloff from center to edges, and it isn’t always nicely symmetrical around the center of the image.

Here is an example of a non-uniformly illuminated image.

Q-14 and X-Rite Colorchecker image, unevenly illuminated
Click on this image (and the next) for a large downloadable version.

The uneven illumination (intentional in this case, but usually accidental) will have an adverse effect on measurements.

Correcting nonuniformity

Several Imatest modules— Color/Tone Setup (formerly Multicharts), Color/Tone Auto (formerly Multitest), Stepchart, and Colorcheck— can correct for this nonuniform illumination by using an image of a flat-field target taken under identical conditions as the test target. If possible, the flat image should have a similar surface to the test target (often matte, sometimes luster or semi-gloss). Here is an example of such an image.

Nonuniformity correction image (of flat-field target) taken under identical
conditions as the image under test (above).

Steps to correcting nonuniformity

• Photograph and save the nonuniformity correction image.
• Open the module for the chart to be analyzed, then read in the test image.
• In the Settings window, click on the Nonuniformity correction button, located as shown below.

Multicharts  lower-left	Multitest  middle-left
Stepchart  upper-right	Colorcheck  upper-left

• This opens the Nonuniformity correction window, shown below.

• Check Perform nonuniformity correction to turn on the correction. Select the nonuniformity correction file. Enter the Estimated gamma, recalling that the nonuniformity can affect the uncorrected gamma measurement. The estimate does not have to be precisely accurate. We recommend the standard Level and Algorithm settings shown above.
• When the settings are complete, press OK. The background of the  Nonuniformity correction  button will be displayed as a color (and remain colored until you uncheck the correction. Press OK in the settings window.

In Multicharts we recommend setting nonuniformity correction (by pressing the Settings button) before reading an image. After you’ve read an image changing the nonuniformity correction setting doesn’t work well. We recommend changing the setting, then rereading the image.

Here are some results with nonuniformity correction off and on.

Multicharts Colorchecker results, showing density (OECF) plot. No nonuniformity correction.

Multicharts Colorchecker results, showing density (OECF) plot. No nonuniformity correction.