Abstract: A system for estimating an illuminant of a scene that was captured by an input image includes a control system that generates an input gamut that includes the input colors for the input image. Further, the control system compares the input gamut to an illuminant database that includes separate information from a gamut of observable colors for a plurality of possible illuminants to estimate the possible illuminant. Each illuminant can be represented by a separate illuminant gamut. Moreover, each gamut can be organized as a matrix. Additionally, the control system can combine the input gamut with each of the illuminant gamuts to generate a separate union gamut for each of the possible illuminants. The control system can compare the union gamut and the corresponding illuminant gamut for each possible illuminant to estimate the illuminant. After estimating the possible illuminant, the control system performs color correction on the input image.

Abstract: A method for reducing blurring in a blurred image (14) of a scene (12) includes the steps of: (i) creating an edge mask (362) from the blurred image (14); (ii) extending the edge mask (362; (iii) forming an initial array (e.g. extending the blurred image (360); and (iv) performing Lucy-Richardson iterations, with masking. With the deblurring method disclosed herein, the reconstructed adjusted image (16) (i) does not have (or has significantly less) ringing artifacts around the edges (22) of the captured object(s) (20C), and (ii) does not have (or has significantly less) ringing artifacts around border (24). As a result thereof, the adjusted image (16) is more attractive and more accurately represents the scene (12).

Abstract: A method for estimating a blur direction (20) of motion blur (16) in a blurred image (14) includes the steps of blurring the blurred image (14) in a number of different test directions (360A) (362A) (364A), and finding the test direction (360A) (362A) (364A) for which the blurred image (14) changes the least by the additional blurring (366). With this design, when more blur (366) is applied to the blurred image (14) in a test direction (360A) (362A) (364A) that is similar to the blur direction (20), the difference in the image appearance is relatively small. However, when more blur (366) is applied to the blurred image (14) in a test direction (360A) (362A) (364A) that is very different to the blur direction (20), the difference in the image appearance is relatively large. In one embodiment, a blur difference is determined for each test direction (360A) (362A) (364A). Subsequently, the test direction (360A) (362A) (364A) with the smallest blur difference is selected as the blur direction (20).