Author:

Keywords:

contrast perception, luminance maps, lighting, Science & Technology, Physical Sciences, Optics, Physics, Applied, Physics, Contrast Perception, Contrast Metrics, Luminance Maps, Sharpness Edges, CIELAB, RETINAL GANGLION-CELLS

Abstract:

This paper investigates the performance of six contrast metrics published in literature, using the results of a pilot experiment on contrast perception of circular luminance distributions presented on a wall in a lab environment with minimal context. The circular stimuli, surrounded by a dark background, were varied with respect to intensity and edge sharpness. Both settings consisted of three values, low medium and high, resulting into 9 stimuli and 72 pairs. A Two-Interval Forced-Choice experiment was conducted with 10 observers. Tristimulus maps were captured from the subject’s viewing position using a high-resolution imaging colorimeter. From the tristimulus maps, contrast values were calculated for each contrast metric and compared with the observers contrast estimate. Of all investigated contrast metrics, retinal-like subsampling contrast performed best with a coefficient of determination of 0,96.