High-quality image compression algorithms are capable of achieving tra
nsmission or storage rates of 0.3 to 0.5 b/pixel with low degradation
in image quality. In order to obtain even lower bit rates, we relax th
e usual rms error definition of image quality and allow certain ''less
critical'' portions of the image to be transmitted as texture models,
These regions are then reconstructed at the receiver with statistical
fidelity in the mid-to high-range spatial frequencies and absolute fi
delity in the lowpass frequency range. This hybrid spectral texture mo
deling technique takes place in the discrete wavelet transform domain,
In this way, we obtain natural spectral texture models and avoid the
boundary blending problems usually associated with polygonal modeling,
This paper describes the complete hybrid compression system with emph
asis on the texture modeling issues.