Rate Scalable Color Image Compression

In the Video and Image Processing Laboratory (VIPER) we have designed a wavelet based coding algorithm for color images using a luminance/chrominance color space. Data rate scalability is achieved by using an embedded coding scheme, which is similar to an embedded zerotree wavelet (EZW) algorithm. In a luminance/chrominance color space, the three color components have little statistical correlation. However, it has been observed that at spatial locations where the chrominance signals have large transitions, it is highly likely that the luminance signal will have large transitions. This interdependence between the color components are exploited in our algorithm.

A comparison of the images at different data rates are shown in the following figures.

Upper-left: The original image.
Upper-right: Decoded at 0.5 bpp (PSNR: 35.32 dB).
Lower-left: 1.0 bpp (PSNR: 38.73 dB).
Lower-right: 1.5 bpp (PSNR: 41.62 dB).

These images at their original resolution (512x512) can be found at our ftp site

Publications

Our recent publications in Image and Video Compression.
A complete set of our recent publications are available here.

Address all comments and questions to Professor Edward J. Delp.

Professor Edward J. Delp