Photography Exploitation Techniques

Coherent optical techniques were investigated to determine new equipment configurations which will benefit photointerpreters. The problem of image formation was analyzed from the standpoint of diffraction optics and relative comparisons were made between coherent and incoherent illumination. Demonstrations showed how coherent illumination will result in image detail of higher contrast. Techniques for inverse filtering and other types of image enhancement were investigated. Spatial filtering for image enhancement can be performed during the process of image display and thus, can be more cost-effective than enhancement filtering with digital computers. The added dimension of color can be used to highlight features of black and white imagery by a new process unique to coherent light. The ability to modulate and deflect laser beams can result in the capabilities of image mensuration and automatic dodging within rear-projection viewing system. (Author)