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Adding Simulated Sensor Noise and ISP Processing to Images from Lens Design Software

Adding Simulated Sensor Noise and ISP Processing to Images from Lens Design Software

You can generate images of test charts in lens design software, such as Keysight’s Code V or Synopsys' Zemax OpticStudio. These images will include optical aberrations, but will not include sensor noise, sharpening or other effects an ISP will apply to an image.

The image from the lens design software can be used as input to Imatest’s Simatest module, which is designed to simulate complete camera systems, producing results for visual analysis or image quality analysis with the Rescharts or Color/Tone modules. The Simatest block diagram is shown below.

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The simulated image, processed by the lens design software, is represented by the lower pink input image box on the left. For a complete camera simulation, the simulated image sensor noise and any image processing blocks must be added. Simatest results can be visually analyzed or sent to

  • Rescharts, which can analyze image sharpness (MTF) and the new image information metrics (channel capacity, SNRi, etc.).

  • Color/Tone, which can measure tonal response, noise, and color, and can display a Photon Transfer Curve that represents image sensor noise,

  • Image Statistics, Which can display histograms, spectra, and a number of statistical results.

Simatest allows the results of lens design software to be used in a software prototype of a camera design, which can result in considerable savings of time and money. A description of Simatest, with links to detailed instructions, can be found in the Simatest - Overview.

See Also