Acquisition and storage

This chapter introduces the acquisition of image, the first step of any image processing application. The acquisition process is modeled as a mathematical operator, to control and quantify the quality of the approximation of continuous images by digital ones. The chapter presents and compares the data structures used in this context. Mapping from a continuous to a discrete image is the first step in any digital image processing application. Discrete data resulting from this digitization process is then, stored in a form, which is suitable for further processing. This chapter focuses on binary digital image processing and, hence, binary image acquisition. Data resulting from the acquisition process is typically composed of black and white pixels, represented by integer points on a lattice associated with 0–1 values. This chapter also presents the study of partitions, which models acquisition devices and their dual lattices. Different digitization methods are presented, and their usage is justified. The problem of image data storage is considered. Depending on the approach chosen for further processing, the storage varies, in order to facilitate access to data throughout the process. In this respect, different methods for image data storage are presented. The form in which image data is stored and the approach chosen for processing naturally define the type of data structures, which are to be used in this context. The chapter presents such data structures. It also introduces binary digital image data compression and presents its simple techniques.