What is Image Stitching?
Image stitching is a process of combining multiple images with overlapping fields of view to produce a segmented panorama or a high-resolution composite image. In
histology, image stitching is crucial for analyzing large tissue samples that cannot be captured in a single field of view using conventional microscopy techniques.
Why is Image Stitching Important in Histology?
Histological analyses often require the examination of extensive tissue sections to identify
pathological features and other significant structures. Traditional microscopes have a limited field of view, making it challenging to observe large areas. Image stitching solves this problem by creating a comprehensive view of the tissue, facilitating better diagnosis and research.
Image Acquisition: Multiple images are captured with overlapping regions.
Feature Detection: Key features in the overlapping regions are identified.
Image Alignment: Images are aligned based on the detected features.
Blending: The aligned images are blended to create a seamless composite image.
Feature-Based Methods: These methods involve detecting and matching features such as edges, corners, and textures across images.
Direct Methods: These use pixel intensity values directly to align images and minimize differences.
Hybrid Methods: A combination of feature-based and direct methods for improved accuracy and robustness.
Image Distortion: Variations in lighting, focus, and sample orientation can cause distortions, complicating the stitching process.
Computational Load: High-resolution images require significant computational resources for processing and storage.
Artifacts: Blending images can introduce artifacts, such as seams or ghosting, affecting the quality of the stitched image.
ImageJ: An open-source image processing software with plugins for stitching.
Fiji: A distribution of ImageJ, optimized for biological image analysis, including stitching capabilities.
Photoshop: Commercial software with powerful tools for image alignment and blending.
Hugin: An open-source panorama photo stitching and HDR merging program.
