Abstract: A method of producing a compressed video data stream (12) by compressing a stream of relatively high dynamic range video frames (2). A bilateral filter (3) extracts a base frame (4) with luminance information. The base frame (4) and the original frame (2) are used to provide a detail frame (5) with chroma information. A tone mapping operation (6) is selected (7, 11) and applied to the base frame to generate a relatively low dynamic range base frame (8), which is then compressed (9). The detail frame (5) is compressed separately. Final frame data (12) is then created, consisting of the compressed relatively low dynamic range base frame, the compressed detail frame, and stored information in respect of the tone mapping operation that had been applied to the base frame.

Abstract: A method for increasing dynamic range of original image data representing an image comprises applying an expansion function to generate from the original image data expanded data having a dynamic range greater than that of the original image data and, obtaining an expand map comprising data indicative of a degree of luminance of regions associated with pixels in the image. The method then combines the original image data and the expanded data according to the expand map to yield enhanced image data. Apparatus for boosting the dynamic range of image data comprises a dynamic range expander that produces expanded data, a luminance analyzer that produces an expand map and a combiner that combines the original and expanded data according to a variable weighting provided by the expand map.

Abstract: A method of producing a compressed video data stream (12) by compressing a stream of relatively high dynamic range video frames (2). A bilateral filter (3) extracts a base frame (4) with luminance information. The base frame (4) and the original frame (2) are used to provide a detail frame (5) with chroma information. A tone mapping operation (6) is selected (7, 11) and applied to the base frame to generate a relatively low dynamic range base frame (8), which is then compressed (9). The detail frame (5) is compressed separately. Final frame data (12) is then created, consisting of the compressed relatively low dynamic range base frame, the compressed detail frame, and stored information in respect of the tone mapping operation that had been applied to the base frame.

Abstract: A method for increasing dynamic range of original image data representing an image comprises applying an expansion function to generate from the original image data expanded data having a dynamic range greater than that of the original image data and, obtaining an expand map comprising data indicative of a degree of luminance of regions associated with pixels in the image. The method then combines the original image data and the expanded data according to the expand map to yield enhanced image data. Apparatus for boosting the dynamic range of image data comprises a dynamic range expander that produces expanded data, a luminance analyzer that produces an expand map and a combiner that combines the original and expanded data according to a variable weighting provided by the expand map.