Laplacian pyramid filter effect plugin

[MichaelVinther]

The Laplacian pyramid can be used to improve the overall illumination of photos, typically useful when part of the scene is in shadow. It can also smooth or enhance details in a photo without smoothing edges or introduce halos. Similar filters are used for tonemapping HDR pictures. Unfortunately the processing can take long time on big photos, so have patience...

The filter was inspired by the paper "Local Laplacian Filters: Edge-aware Image Processing with a Laplacian Pyramid" by Sylvain Paris, Samuel W. Hasinoff and Jan Kautz. (http://people.csail..../2011/siggraph/)

Example on detail enhancement (photo from Toul Sleng prison, Cambodia, © Michael Vinther 2012):

 

Parameters used for example:

Download:  https://www.fosshub.com/Image-Analyzer-old.html?dwl=LaplacianPyramidFilterPDN1.1.2.zip

 

NOTE:  If you have trouble with the above link, you can download it from here:  https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/ybrslwbxmtpf4mh446k4j/h?dl=0&rlkey=hma69px4yhpa31fawc88kyper

Unzip the file in the Paint.NET\Effects folder or Documents\paint.net App Files\Effects if PDN was installed from the Windows Store.

You can access the feature from the Effects | Photo menu.

 

If you like this, please consider donating to the author at http://meesoft.logicnet.dk/Analyzer/support.htm

 

[MichaelVinther]

By the way, if anyone has an idea for a better icon for the plugin you are welcome to send me a new picture - the current one was taken from myIncrease Local Contrast plugin.

Edited April 6, 2012 by MichaelVinther

[yellowman]

Awesome, I just have one small problem: when I slide the "Detail handling" all the way to the left (zero), PDN crashes on me when I click OK or attempt to play with the other sliders.

BTW, I love the effect of zero "Detail handling"

Windows 7, .NET Framework 4, SP1

[Rick Brewster]

Paint.NET already requires .NET 3.5 SP1 so I'm not really sure why you called that out in your description

[MichaelVinther]

when I slide the "Detail handling" all the way to the left (zero), PDN crashes on me when I click OK

Should be fixed now.

Paint.NET already requires .NET 3.5 SP1 so I'm not really sure why you called that out in your description

Ok, didn't know that. Actually I just copied the text from my Increase local Contrast plugin which was released before Paint.NET required that version.

[pdnnoob]

This...looks incredible. <downloads> It seems to make photos look like drawings somehow...

I'll see what I can do about an icon...the one it has looks ok already, though

Edited April 11, 2012 by pdnnoob

[yellowman]

Should be fixed now.

Yes, thank you very much,

I tried it on this photo:

And got this:

[ajfudge]

Wow! This is impressive! Instant HDR!

[Drazick]

Hi,

Looks great.

 

could you shed some light on the implementation?

 

In ACR they use it for Shadow / Highlight and Clarity, any idea how?

[david.atwell]

The person who posted this hasn't been online in over a year.  I doubt you'll receive an answer.

[MichaelVinther]

could you shed some light on the implementation?

 

 

Basically it's all in the paper referenced in the first post.. The algorithm is fairly complex to explain so that would be the best reference.

[racerx]

This filter works well for retrieving lost detail in shadows, however it is extremely slow with large images....

 

[MichaelVinther]

I have just updated the download link with a new version that is much faster.

.. and another tone mapping example (photo from The Cisterns below Copenhagen, © Michael Vinther 2014):

Edited February 18, 2015 by MichaelVinther

[racerx]

I really like the adjustment range on this filter. This one is a keeper....

 

[Seerose]

This is very interesting plugin. Fairly clear variation. Thank you so much.   

[MJW]

This is quite an intriguing plugin. When combined with effects like the surface blur and soften portrait, it can produce a nice approximation of an air-brush illustration. This can be enhanced by copying the image to an upper layer and using the pencil sketch effect with multiply blending mode.

[Maximilian]

Would it be possible to compile a version compatible with PdN 3.5.11?

[MichaelVinther]

I have placed the previous version of the plugin which should be compatible with older versions of PDN here: LaplacianPyramidFilter1.0.0.1.zip

Note that it is somewhat slower than the latest version.

Edited April 4, 2015 by MichaelVinther

[Maximilian]

Thank you very much, Michael! I'll give it a try!

[birinci]

Hi Michael... Thanks a lot for the filter. Just wanted to give you a heads-up for this paper. They claim they achieved 50x speed improvement for Local Laplacian Filters

[MichaelVinther]

 

Hi Michael... Thanks a lot for the filter. Just wanted to give you a heads-up for this paper. They claim they achieved 50x speed improvement for Local Laplacian Filters 

Thanks for the hint, I will get this paper. 

 

Just one more example (photo from Mostar, Bosnia-Herzegovina, © Michael Vinther 2015):

Edited February 6, 2016 by MichaelVinther

[Seerose]

 

 

MichaelVinther! A very nice result. Thank you. Welcome to the forum.   

[MichaelVinther]

Hi Michael... Thanks a lot for the filter. Just wanted to give you a heads-up for this paper. They claim they achieved 50x speed improvement for Local Laplacian Filters

 

I tried to implement the optimizations they describe in this paper, but unfortunately it didn't give much compared to my existing implementation. For some parameter values (with Detail handling=1 (alpha in the paper)) it is faster (perhaps 2x) but for other values it actually takes longer to achieve the same quality. I've uploaded the plugin with a new version that uses the new algorithm when it makes sense.

Edited February 8, 2016 by MichaelVinther

[barbieq25]

Thank you for your hard work I love this plugin & use it quite often.

[Nai]

This is a great plugin !

Before this, I used several layers with different blending modes ( and adjustments to it ) to create the desired effect I need. And 'soft light' mode from Blend Mode process is needed in the process. I think this plugin saves time.