Multi-focus image fusion algorithm based on focus detection in spatial and NSCT domain

Multi-focus image fusion is an effective approach to obtain the all-in-focus image. Focus detection is the key issue of multi-focus image fusion. Aiming at the shortcoming of spatial domain and transform domain algorithms for multi-focus image fusion, a novel multi-focus image fusion algorithm is proposed by combing focus detection in spatial domain and non-subsampled contourlet transform (NSCT) domain. At first, the focused pixels are detected by the sum-modified-Laplacian algorithm in spatial domain. At the same time, the focus detection method is proposed in NSCT domain, namely by MPCNN and voting fusion methods for high-frequency subbands of NSCT. Then, the morphological operation is utilized to correct the focus detection results in spatial domain and NSCT domain. At last, synthesis of detection results is implemented and the fused image can be obtained. Experimental results verified that the proposed algorithm outperformed some state-of-the-art fusion algorithms in terms of both subjective observation and objective evaluations.