Expansion of color images using three perceptual attributes

Abstract This paper describes a method for expanding color images in terms of three attributes of color perception. The Munsell color system is used as a color space defined in terms of Munsell Hue, Value, and Chroma. The B/W, R, G, and B images are measured wuth an optical scanner. We first present a mapping method for transforming the measured images into the color space pixel-by-pixel, and obtaining the estimated attribute images of Hue, Value, and Chroma. Next, an experiment of the image expansion is made with a color photograph of a flowering plant. The attribute images are displayed, and their statistics are represented by histograms. The results are discussed in detail, and the validity of the method is confirmed.