17. Frequency in Images

Frequency in images

We have an intuition of what frequency means when it comes to sound. High-frequency is a high pitched noise, like a bird chirp or violin. And low frequency sounds are low pitch, like a deep voice or a bass drum. For sound, frequency actually refers to how fast a sound wave is moving to make a certain pitch. Faster sound waves, make higher pitches and are called high-frequency waves.

High and low frequency

Similarly, frequency in images is a rate of change. But, what does it means for an image to change? Well, images change in space, and a high frequency image is one where the intensity changes a lot. And the level of brightness changes quickly from one pixel to the next. A low frequency image may be one that is relatively uniform in brightness or changes very slowly. This is easiest to see in an example.

Most images have both high-frequency and low-frequency components. In the image above, on the scarf and striped shirt, we have a high-frequency image pattern; this part changes very rapidly from one brightness to another. Higher up in this same image, we see parts of the sky and background that change very gradually, which is considered a smooth, low-frequency pattern.