Image enhancement and segmentation using dark stretching technique for Plasmodium Falciparum for thick blood smear

Abstract

This paper present the results of applying dark stretching technique to enhance and segment the Plasmodium Falciparum based on thick blood smear images. Image enhancement is the process to improve the quality (clarity) of images for human viewing. Removing blurring and noise, increasing contrast, and revealing details are examples of enhancement operations. Reducing the noise and blurring and increasing the contrast range could enhance the image. The original image might have areas of very high and very low intensity, which mask details. Segmentation is to cluster pixels into salient image regions, i.e., regions corresponding to individual surfaces, objects, or natural parts of objects.