Efficient domain search for fractal image compression using feature extraction technique

Abstract

Fractal image compression is a lossy compression technique developed in the early 1990s. It makes use of the local self-similarity property existing in an image and finds a contractive mapping affine transformation (fractal transform) T, such that the fixed point of T is close to the given image in a suitable metric. It has generated much interest due to its promise of high compression ratios with good decompression quality. The other advantage is its multi resolution property, i.e. an image can be decoded at higher or lower resolutions than the original without much degradation in quality. However, the encoding time is computationally intensive [8]. Image encoding based on fractal block-coding method relies on assumption that image redundancy can be efficiently exploited through block-self transformability. It has shown promise in producing high fidelity, resolution independent images. The low complexity of decoding process also suggested use in real time applications. The high encoding time, in combination with patents on technology have unfortunately discouraged results. In this paper, We have proposed efficient domain search technique using feature extraction for the encoding of fractal image which reduces encodingdecoding time and proposed technique improves quality of compressed image. © 2012 Springer-Verlag GmbH.