A neighborhood evaluated adaptive vector filter for suppression of impulse noise in color images

A new adaptive vector filter is proposed for impulse noise suppression and its relationship with the recent impulse reduction filters is investigated. The new filter detects outliers presented in the image through a novel neighborhood evaluation process, which significantly improves the accuracy of noise detection and detail preservation. The computational complexity of the new filter is very competitive. Its two parameters can be configured efficiently using online/offline optimization processes. Extensive simulations indicated that the new filter outperforms other prior-art methods in suppressing impulse noise in natural color images.