# What are the measurable factors of image sharpness?

I need a way to present data on an essay written about image sharpening algorithm. So I've thought that if I measure a factor of sharpness from image or relative sharpness (between test img and reference img) and another factor like PSR for noise, then I could analyze resultant data with maths and build the essay around that. Is it the right approach to measure image properties? I'm novice when it comes to photography and graphics so any kind of help is much appreciated.

My guess would be that making an image sharper translates into a spectrum that have more high frequency and less low frequency: i.e. the weighted median frequency would increase. Now you can define a relative measure of image sharpness.

To get an absolute measure of image sharpness, you need to define what is maximum and minimum sharpness, and find a way to assign a value in this scale to any image.

There is probably multiple ways to define what sharpness is though. Also, you might want to learn about acutance

• Would increase in high frequency translate to increase in amplitude of the wave? – Kacper Nov 11 '19 at 21:00
• If what you mean by "wave" is sinusoid, then yes. Any periodic signal can be expressed as an infinite sum of sinusoids. An increase in high frequencies would translate into a higher amplitude for the sinusoids (wave ?) of high frequency – Victor Deleau Nov 11 '19 at 21:07
• The programe i'm using for graphing uses sinusoidal waves in order to represent changes in rise distance (MTF is the indicator and is plotted against frequency), so yeah it's a sinusoid. Also may I ask if high MTF on such graph means high frequency or is it the farthest point on frequency axis? – Kacper Nov 11 '19 at 21:14
• Stupid question of course it's the farthest point on frequency axis, anyways much thanks for the effort I think I found a direction in the essay. – Kacper Nov 11 '19 at 21:37

Some references on image sharpness metrics:

• Too bad that these are all paid :/ – Kacper Nov 10 '19 at 22:03
• I used the doi for reference. You can found some of them by copying the title in a search engine – Laurent Duval Nov 10 '19 at 22:21