Image enhancement and image restoration are both techniques used in image processing to improve the quality of an image. However, there are some differences between the two processes.

  1. Definition: Image enhancement refers to techniques that aim to improve the visual perception of an image, making it more visually appealing or easier to interpret. On the other hand, image restoration aims to recover the original or true version of an image by reducing or removing various types of degradation, such as noise, blurring, or distortion.

  2. Objective: The primary objective of image enhancement is to enhance the image's appearance and make it more visually appealing without significantly altering the original content. Image restoration, however, focuses on recovering lost or corrupted information in an image to regain its original quality and details.

  3. Techniques used: Image enhancement techniques include adjusting brightness, contrast, sharpness, and colors to improve the overall visual quality of the image. These techniques can be subjective, as the enhancement is based on the preference of the observer. Image restoration techniques, on the other hand, involve mathematical algorithms and models to analyze the degradation factors and estimate the original image.

  4. Knowledge of the original image: Image enhancement does not require any knowledge of the true or original image; it mainly relies on subjective preference. Image restoration, on the other hand, requires some knowledge or assumptions about the degradation process or the characteristics of the original image to restore it effectively.

  5. Application: Image enhancement is commonly used in various fields like photography, graphic design, and visual media to improve the overall aesthetic appeal of the image. Image restoration finds applications in forensic analysis, medical imaging, satellite imaging, and any other domain where the original details are crucial.

  In summary, image enhancement aims to improve the visual perception of an image, while image restoration focuses on recovering lost or corrupted information in an image. Enhancement techniques are subjective and rely on subjective preferences, while restoration techniques are more objective and involve mathematical algorithms.