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AI enhances low-light photos

May 15, 2018.

Sony a7S II, low light.

Sony a7S II, ISO-250, f/11, 1/25 s.

Fuji X-T2, low light.

Fuji X-T2, ISO-640, f/10, 1/30 s.

Researchers with the University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign and Intel have developed a deep neural network that brightens ultra-low light images without adding noise and other artifacts. The network was trained using over 5,000 pairs of images, each with an under-exposed and a longer exposure version. The final result is a system that automatically brightens up images at a much higher quality than traditional processing options, which often add high levels of noise. The team used images captured with a Fujifilm X-T2 and a Sony a7S II, but also with phones like the iPhone X and the Google Pixel 2. High-resolution images can be seen here, and a PDF document of the full study can be downloaded there. Impressive!

Digital Photography Review, “Researchers use AI to brighten ultra-low light images without adding noise.”