Image degradation refers to the process through which the quality of an image deteriorates or is impaired. This phenomenon can occur due to multiple factors, such as noise, blur, or compression, and it has a detrimental impact on both the visual appearance and the interpretability of the image.
Noise is one of the most common causes of image degradation. It can be introduced into an image in various ways, including electronic noise generated by the camera sensor, interference from external sources, or quantization errors during image processing. Noise causes random fluctuations in the pixel intensity or color, thereby reducing the clarity and detail of the image.
Blur is another factor that leads to image degradation. It makes the image seem out-of-focus and diminishes its sharpness and fine details. Blur can be attributed to several elements, like camera or subject movement, the use of a low-quality lens, or the presence of atmospheric conditions such as haze or smoke.
Compression can also result in image degradation. It involves reducing the image size by eliminating or approximating certain image data. There are two types of compression: lossy compression, where some of the original data is irreversibly lost, and lossless compression, where the original data can be fully restored. Although compression is beneficial for reducing image storage and transmission requirements, depending on the degree of compression, it may also cause a loss of image quality.
To counteract image degradation and improve image quality, image restoration techniques such as denoising, deblurring, or decompression might be necessary. While these methods can enhance the image's visibility and interpretability, they carry the risk of introducing additional artifacts or distortions, which could potentially degrade the quality of the restored image.