Moire-like images using binarized-weight bilateral filter for higher quality and speed

A non-photorealistic rendering method using a bilateral filter (BF) to generate moire-like images from photographic images has previously been proposed. The standard method has two problems. First, its processing requires much time because iterative calculations using the computationally heavy BF are performed. Second, moire patterns are difficult to generate in regions of a photographic image with only small variation in brightness. In the present study, a method using a binarized-weight BF is proposed to achieve, relative to the standard method, faster image rendering by reducing the amount of computation and higher quality by generating moire patterns in regions of the photographic image with only small variation in brightness. To verify the effectiveness of the proposed method, a test is conducted using the Lenna image. A test of computational time shows that the proposed method can process images faster than the standard method, and a quality test shows that the proposed method can generate moire patterns in regions where the standard method cannot. The proposed method is also applied to a variety of other photographic images in addition to the Lenna image, and confirmed to give good results, as when applied to the Lenna image.