Evaluating Kube and Pentland's fractal imaging model

The aim of this paper is to assess the validity of a model, proposed by Kube and Pentland [1], that relates a rough surface to its image texture. Simulation was used to assess whether a linear approximation is appropriate, and whether the optimal linear filter agrees with the predictions of Kube and Pentland's model. The predictions of the model about image directionality were also assessed on real images. It was found that a linear model is capable of modeling the imaging process for surfaces of moderate roughness and Lambertian reflectance, and that, subject to a small modification, Kube and Pentland's model accurately predicts the relationship between surface and image spectra.