A Reduced Codebook and Re-Interpolation Approach for Enhancing Quality in Chroma Subsampling

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel reduced codebook and re-interpolation method to address coordinate-inconsistency and upsampling issues in chroma subsampling, significantly improving reconstructed image quality.

Contribution

The paper proposes a new RCRI approach that effectively mitigates CI and UPI problems, enhancing chroma subsampling quality in image encoding.

Findings

At least 1.4 dB quality improvement for RGB images

At least 2.4 dB quality improvement for Bayer CFA images

Effective solution for traditional and state-of-the-art chroma subsampling methods

Abstract

Prior to encoding RGB full-color images or Bayer color filter array (CFA) images, chroma subsampling is a necessary and crucial step at the server side. In this paper, we first propose a flow diagram approach to analyze the coordinate-inconsistency (CI) problem and the upsampling process-inconsistency (UPI) problem existing in the traditional and state-of-the-art chroma subsampling methods under the current coding environment. In addition, we explain why the two problems degrade the quality of the reconstructed images. Next, we propose a reduced codebook and re-interpolation (RCRI) approach to solve the two problems for enhancing the quality of the reconstructed images. Based on the testing RGB full-color images and Bayer CFA images, the comprehensive experimental results demonstrated at least 1.4 dB and 2.4 dB quality improvement effects, respectively, of our RCRI approach against the CI and UPI problems for the traditional and state-of-the-art chroma subsampling methods.