SUPPLEMENT(Sanitized) INTERIM REPORT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78B04770A000200010040-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 18
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 1, 2004
• Sequence Number: 40
• Publication Date: April 8, 1966
• Content Type: REPORT

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STAT
Supplement to
8 April 1966
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Declass Review by NGA.
OP
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15 .,pril 1966
Supplement tol Interim Report
Several questions have arisen with regard to the proposed Integration
Viewer Printer as it was outlined in the Interim Report. While many of
the questions concern design details, they all revolve around one major
concern; namely whether or not the output produced by the proposed printer
will indeed be substantially better than the input material. The material
below was prepared in an attempt to clarify all those questions which arose
from this principal concern.
1. Purpose of Image Combination
Multiple image combination is the technique of utilizing several inde-
pendent images of the same object as an aid to photographic interpretation.
The improvement obtained in certainty and accuracy of interpretation may
be due to any one, or a combination, of the following effects:
a. Improvement in the contrast of low contrast images due to the coher-
ent addition of image detail and the non-coherent addition of other random
disturbances (which may be outside the collection system).
b. Revelation of image detail hidden in shadows or missing due to other
causes, by the superimposition of two or more inputs taken at different
times of day or from different viewpoints.
c. Detection of changes.
It is not the intention of the proposed Image Combination and Integration
Printer to increase the resolution in terms of the highest spatial frequency
that can be resolved at the output. While some improvement in resolution
can be obtained by image integration when relatively coarse-grained films
are used, it is found that ~ttle it1Dro moment in resolution can be obtained
when the high resolution emulsions presently in use for aerial photography
are employed. This is true of any image integration system, including
purely optical systems. One very real advantage of image integration lies
in the increase in signal to noise ratio or the threshold of perception of
the integrated image over any one input. This is important at any spatial
frequency. It is, of course, necessary to determine that the image inte-
gration process does not degrade resolution significantly so that the
advantages of integration are lost.
Analysis of the modulation transfer functions in Section 3 of this
supplement shows that the resolution of the image integration system is
comparable with that of a high quality optical enlarger.
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2. Performance of Electronic Imaging Systems
In evaluating the proposed Image Combination and Integration Printer,
a distinction must be made between electronic viewing systems and electronic
printing systems. Viewing systems are limited in the number of resolution
elements per second that can be presented to an observer. The necessity
to avoid flicker makes high frame rates and interlacing necessary,
causing additional problems.
The proposed image combination system produces its output on film by
means of slow scanning. In this mode, the number of resolution elements
that can be recorded is not limited by bandwidth considerations and no
interlace is necessary.
This approach yields considerably higher resolution than can be obtained
in a direct viewing system.
3. Expected Performance of Image Combination and Integration Printer
While an analysis of the expected modulation transfer functions and
resolution of the printer is useful, it does not determine the improve-
ment in the quality of the output image versus that of the input images.
This improvement depends on many factors outside the collection system
that cannot be included in a paper analysis.
Such factors as visibility, illumination, haze, turbulence, target
motion and many others affect the result. The only way in which the
answers can be obtained is to build and evaluate the equipment.
However, there is a trade-off in that the resolution of the integration
device must be sufficiently good to enable its advantages in other areas
to be employed. For this reason, the following analysis is presented.
For the purpose of this discussions,we can divide the input materials
into two broad categroies: 1) photographic records of film limited systems
(grain limited) and 2) photographic records which represent the outputs of
non-film limited acquisition systems. Input materials in the first cate-
gory would typically comprise original negatives on materials such as 3401
and Tri-X while the second category is characterized by original negatives
on 3404 film. Let us consider inputs on 3404 first. In order to be able
to make a meaningful comparison between the output of the Image Combination
Integration Printer with a typical, single aerial scene, the steps shown in
Figure 1 were followed. Figures 2, 3 and 4 show the MTF curves which are
associated with the various steps outlined on the Data Flow in Figure 1.
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Figure 4 shows that three images on 3404 can be combined into a single
output print. This single output print will be twelve times enlarged
with all the inherent advantages of transferring detail shown in one of
the three input negatives to the final geometrically corrected output
print, essentially without loss in resolution as compared to the through-
put of a single negative. On the other hand, for input material on film
such as 3401 or Tri-X, i.e. grain limited inputs, the Image Combination
and Integration Printer combines the three inputs, and, indeed, produces
an output which has better resolution than a compatible output produced
from a single negative. Figures 5 through 10 show in a manner analogous
to that used previously in Figures 2 through 4 what the relation among
MTF's is when input material such as 3401 and Tri-X is handled according
to the data flow in Figure 1. Of particular interest is Figure 10 which
shows the improvement in resolution obtained with the Image Combination
and Integration Printer.
Figure 11 shows how the densities can be manipulated during the image com-
bination and integration process in such a manner that the "Visual Threshold"
is significantly lowered in the output print in comparison with each indiv-
idual input negative. This advantage inherent in the electronic image
manipulation of the image combination/image integration printer appears
to make it possible to obtain information from under exposed negatives
which otherwise would be buried below the "Visual Threshold."
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Figure 2. Modulation Transfer Function for Electronic Multiple Image
Integration Printer and typical aerial scene on 3404 film.
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Figure 3. Modulation Transfer Function for typical
enlarger and typical aerial scene in 31i0Li film,
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