plenoptisch

Plenoptic imaging refers to a technique in photography and computer vision that captures not only the intensity of light but also its direction, resulting in a more comprehensive representation of a scene. The term "plenoptic" derives from the Greek word *plēnōtikos*, meaning "full" or "complete," reflecting the goal of recording all possible light rays originating from a scene. Unlike traditional cameras, which record a two-dimensional image with limited depth information, plenoptic cameras capture a four-dimensional dataset—spatial dimensions (width and height) along with angular and depth information.

Plenoptic imaging is often associated with light field photography, a method that records the light rays emanating from a scene in a way that allows for post-processing adjustments such as refocusing, changing perspective, or simulating depth of field. This is achieved using specialized sensors, such as microlens arrays or coded apertures, which capture multiple views or angular samples of the scene simultaneously. The resulting data can be computationally processed to generate multiple images with varying focal points or viewpoints.

Applications of plenoptic imaging include advanced photography, augmented reality, and computational photography. In photography, it enables creative control over depth and perspective after capture. In computer vision, it aids in tasks like 3D reconstruction, object recognition, and scene understanding. However, plenoptic cameras typically require high-resolution sensors and significant computational power for processing, which can limit their practicality in everyday use compared to conventional cameras.

The concept of plenoptic imaging was first introduced by Gabriel Lippmann in the late 19th century, who developed a method for capturing light fields using interference. Modern advancements in digital imaging have revived interest in plenoptic techniques, leading to the development of practical light field cameras and algorithms for real-time processing. Despite ongoing challenges, such as sensor limitations and computational complexity, plenoptic imaging continues to expand the possibilities of visual data capture and manipulation.