contraststretching
Contrast stretching, or normalization, is an image processing operation that increases image contrast by expanding the range of displayed intensities. It redistributes pixel values so that the available dynamic range is used more fully, making details easier to see. The technique is commonly applied to grayscale images and can also be used on color images by adjusting luminance or each channel.
Linear contrast stretching maps the image minimum to the darkest display level and the maximum to the
Piecewise linear stretching uses multiple segments to control the slope in different intensity ranges, producing an
Application domains include photography, satellite imagery, and medical imaging, where improved contrast aids interpretation. For color
Limitations include amplification of noise, distortion of absolute intensities, and dependence on chosen endpoints or percentiles.