An Evaluation of Photographic Image Quality and Resolving Power

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Publisher: SMPTE — White Plains, NY, USA
Doc Type: Journal Article
Content Type: Original Research
Abbreviated Title: J SMPTE
Volume: 73, No. 2, pp. 81–119
Abstract: It is often desirable to express the performance characteristics of electronic and photographic imaging systems in the same terminology. The photographic measures — resolving power, number of perceptible gray-scale steps, granularity and others — are shown to be system properties which can be computed from basic characteristics: the intensity transfer function, sine-wave response function and the noise level. Following a review of the quantum relations of signal and noise in a two-dimensional image, the concepts of sampling areas and equivalent passbands are introduced to compute the noise spectrum, equivalent grain size and quantum yield of the photographic process. Number and size of the grains in a sampling area are shown to be functions of exposure and amplification (development), which explains the nonlinear relation between optical density and total noise energy obtained with emulsions containing a range of grain sizes. General expressions are derived for calculating the resolving power of an imaging system for specific test objects. Threshold signal-to-noise ratios and corresponding probabilities for visual detection of 3-bar test objects and intensity steps are determined in Part II, illustrated by numerical examples and observations. Instrumentation and methods for photoelectric measurement of signals and noise, and in particular, the sine-wave response functions of microscopes, lenses and photographic emulsions, are discussed in Part III of the paper.
Publication Date: 1964-02-01
DOI: 10.5594/J06117
ISSN: Print: 0361-4573
Link: https://doi.org/10.5594/J06117
Author(s): Otto H. SchadeElectron Tube Div., Radio Corp. of America, Harrison, N.J.
Copyright: © 1964 Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers, Inc.

Bibliographic Reference(s)

Image Gradation, Graininess and Sharpness in Television and Motion Picture Systems: Part I: Image Structure and Transfer Characteristics [Active]
A Method of Measuring the Optical Sine-Wave Spatial Spectrum of Television Image Display Devices [Active]
Application of Sine-Wave Techniques to Image-Forming Systems [Active]
1. Schade O. H. , “A new system of measuring and specifying image definition,” Nat. Bur. Standards (U.S.), Cir. 526 , April 29, 1954 . EXTERNAL
9. Lamberts R. L. , “Measurement of sine-wave response of a photographic emulsion,” J. Opt. Soc. Am. , 49 : no. 5 , 425 – 428 , 1959 . EXTERNAL
10. Steel H. W. , “The defocussed image of sinusoidal gratings,” Optica Acta (Paris) , 3 : no. 2 , 1956 . EXTERNAL
12. Hendeberg L. O. , “Contrast transfer function of the light-diffusion in photographic emulsions,” Arkiv Fysik , 16 : 417 – 456 , 1960 . EXTERNAL
13. Kelly D. H. , “Systems analysis of the photographic process,” J. Opt. Soc. Am. , 50 : no. 3 , 269 – 276 , Mar. 1960 ; 51: no. 3, 319–330, Mar. 1961. EXTERNAL
3. McCs C. E. K. , The Theory of the Photographic Process , The Macmillan Co. , New York , 1946 . EXTERNAL
4. Webb J. H. , “Number of quanta required to form the photographic latent image as determined from mathematical analysis and the II and D curve, Part II,” J. Opt. Soc. Am. , 31 : no. 9 , 559 – 569 , Sept. 1941 . EXTERNAL
5. Zweig H. J. , “Theoretical considerations on the quantum efficiency of photographic detectors,” J. Opt. Soc. Am. , 51 : no. 3 , 310 – 319 , Mar. 1961 . EXTERNAL
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7a . North D. O. , “Analysis of the factors which determine signal/noise discrimination in pulsed-carrier systems,” Proc. of IEEE , 51 , 7 , pp. 1015 – 27 , July 1963 . EXTERNAL
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Otto H. Schade; An Evaluation of Photographic Image Quality and Resolving Power, Journal of the SMPTE ( Volume: 73, Issue: 2, February 1964); SMPTE, 1964. Available at https://doi.org/10.5594/J06117

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Otto H. Schade; An Evaluation of Photographic Image Quality and Resolving Power, Journal of the SMPTE ( Volume: 73, Issue: 2, February 1964); SMPTE, 1964
doi: 10.5594/J06117
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Otto H. Schade; <cite id="bib-10-5594-j06117">An Evaluation of Photographic Image Quality and Resolving Power</cite>, Journal of the SMPTE ( Volume: 73, Issue: 2, February 1964); SMPTE, 1964
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