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What is meaning of kernel, image patch, and window in image processing?


Asked by Zayne Dunn on Dec 05, 2021 FAQ



Image patch as the name suggests is a group of pixels in an image. Like if I had an image with 20 x 20 pixels. We can divide it into 1000 squares patches of size 2 x 2 pixels each. Window is a similar concept as to the kernel.
In respect to this,
In image processing, a kernel is a small matrix. It is also known as mask. The convolution of kernel and image produces different types of effects such as blurring, sharpening, embossing and so on. That is why, kernel is also known as convolution matrix.
Moreover, Convolution is the process of adding each element of the image to its local neighbors, weighted by the kernel. This is related to a form of mathematical convolution. The matrix operation being performed—convolution—is not traditional matrix multiplication, despite being similarly denoted by "*".
Subsequently,
Blurring is a technique in digital image processing in which we perform a convolution operation between the given image and a predefined low-pass filter kernel. The image looks sharper or more detailed if we are able to perceive all the objects and their shapes correctly in it.
Additionally,
Normalization. Normalization is defined as the division of each element in the kernel by the sum of all kernel elements, so that the sum of the elements of a normalized kernel is unity. This will ensure the average pixel in the modified image is as bright as the average pixel in the original image.