Quantifying similar graphic images (was Re: criminal gif upload)

[Matthew J Ghio <mg5n+@andrew.cmu.edu>]

"Pat Farrell" <pfarrell@gmu.edu> writes:

> We can prove statistical insignificance of duplication using strong
> hashing functions. Can we find a way to statistically prove "looks like"
> on a numerical basis?

Yes.  If you were to take an image and divide it into let's say about 20
sections horizontally, and 20 sections vertically, and then average the
intensities of all pixels in each of the 400 rectangles formed, you
would create a fuzzy low-resolution version of the original picture
which could be used to compare other pictures to it to determine weather
they look like the orginal by using the same averaging method, and then
comparing the block-pixel averages.  If the pictures differed by less
than +/- 5% or so for each block, the original pictures probably look
very much alike.  This method works well even if one of the images had
been converted to a different resolution, or if it's color pallete had
been changed slightly to fit a different graphic format, or if one was
converted to black & white.

Such a system would probably be very helpful to sysops to get rid of
duplicate pictures on their systems, but unfortunanently it would also
give the cops an automated system for busting people. :(