Analysis of resolution limitation of integral photography

The resolution limitation of integral photography (IP) is analyzed. Estimating the resolution of IP measured at the viewpoint, we derive the optimum width of the aperture or lens. It is shown that the resolution of aperture-plate IP is lower than conventional two-dimensional displays, even with an optimum design. When the ideal lens is utilized, however, lens-array IP can provide a three-dimensional display that is free from any discontinuous change of images that occur with the observer’s movement and with the same resolution that conventional two-dimensional displays feature.