Patch-based models and algorithms for image denoising: a comparative review between patch-based images denoising methods for additive noise reduction

BACKGROUND: Digital images are captured using sensors during the data acquisition phase, where they are often contaminated by noise (an undesired random signal). Such noise can also be produced during transmission or by poor-quality lossy image compression. Reducing the noise and enhancing the images are considered the central process to all other digital image processing tasks. The improvement in the performance of image denoising methods would contribute greatly on the results of other image processing techniques. Patch-based denoising methods recently have merged as the state-of-the-art denoising approaches for various additive noise levels. In this work, the use of the state-of-the-art patch-based denoising methods for additive noise reduction is investigated. Various types of image datasets are addressed to conduct this study. METHODS: We first explain the type of noise in digital images and discuss various image denoising approaches, with a focus on patch-based denoising methods. Then, we experimentally evaluate both quantitatively and qualitatively the patch-based denoising methods. The patch-based image denoising methods are analyzed in terms of quality and computational time. RESULTS: Despite the sophistication of patch-based image denoising approaches, most patch-based image denoising methods outperform the rest. Fast patch similarity measurements produce fast patch-based image denoising methods. CONCLUSION: Patch-based image denoising approaches can effectively reduce noise and enhance images. Patch-based image denoising approach is the state-of-the-art image denoising approach.