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Community Expert
June 23, 2012
Open for Voting

P: FFT-based pattern remover (Filter/Brush/Tool)

  • June 23, 2012
  • 37 replies
  • 8416 views

A filter that automatically removes/reduces repeating patterns like raster patterns or paper texture.It would be of great help for anyone who ever encounters a scanned image with a repeating pattern (typical for image restoration work or when the only source for an image is a printed copy).Before/after example (click to see gif animation): How to make such a filter: This can be done by doing a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) to split an image into frequency components. The frequencies that make up repeating patterns will stand out and can be removed (today we do this manually with a black brush, but a filter can remove the "peaks" automatically). And inverse FFT is then performed to transform the image back. This entire process can be automated into one step; perhaps just with a slider to let the user choose how aggressively the filter removes frequencies.I posted a detailed explanation here with a short tutorial on how this is done step by step.Note that this only works on a single channel, so normally you would just bother to do this on the Luminosity component. Filtering each RGB-channel separately can also be done. I will leave that up to you Adobe... 😉

37 replies

Inspiring
November 7, 2015
http://www.djjoofa.com/download
We are trying to get him to update his port by encouraging him to start a crowd funding project.

http://imagej.nih.gov/ij/download.html
Here is a standalone software that does FFT for modern Macs; but I cannot find a tutorial on how to apply it to 3 channel RGB images. I know it can do it, but it's a real pain to figure out and frustrating with no brush approach that I can figure out how to use. If you do a YouTube search for "Image J FFT" you will find a few but they are not as helpful for they do not explain how to merge channels after the repair.
May 12, 2015
gimp for mac

http://gimp.lisanet.de

Already comes with the gmic plugin, but you can get the latest version of gmic from here:

http://gmic.eu/gimp.shtml

May 12, 2015
gimp for mac

http://gimp.lisanet.de

Already comes with the gmic plugin, but you can the latest version of gmic from here:

http://gmic.eu/gimp.shtml

gimp.jpg
Community Expert
May 12, 2015
It worked when I tested it (see screenshot in previous post). But to be fair the whole application is still in Beta...

If it is bugged, perhaps try the Gimp GMIC add-on that JEA suggests (I have not heard of that one before).
The Arts Doc
Participant
May 12, 2015
I will check that out. Thanks
The Arts Doc
Participant
May 12, 2015
ImageJ is something I have been trying to get to work but have had only marginal success. I appreciate the response concerning this issue. Thanks
May 12, 2015
Gimp also has an FFT filter after you install the Gimp GMIC add-on

There is also an FFT/IFFT filter for macs, but it no longer works in newer versions of photoshop.

http://www.djjoofa.com/download
Community Expert
May 11, 2015
The above comment was proof that this could be a fully automated 1-click process if Adobe wanted to. If I can get a good result using a basic FFT filter plugin and a convoluted action, then it should be possible for Adobe to automate this as well.
Community Expert
May 11, 2015
That is probably just a regular brush shaped a bit like a star... Maybe you downloaded it at some point?

For Mac if you need FFT, us imagej (or affinity photo beta). There's no option for Photoshop unfortunately.
Community Expert
May 11, 2015
I just found out that the Affinity Photo beta (OSX only) has got an FFT-based "noise remover" (pattern remover). With live preview of what you're doing! Hey Adobe, this is kinda what we wanted!
So this is an option for Mac-users who need FFT (for color images it appears to use the per-channel approach). It's not automated, but it cuts the painting time in half by mirroring your strokes, so that's nice. :)

Ps: A bit off-topic, but it also has a frequency separation filter (with live preview). Something a lot of Photoshop-users currently have to use actions for (and lack preview).