BIT-DEPTH EXTENSION OF DIGITAL DISPLAYS USING NOISE

A method for extending bit-depth of display systems. The method includes the steps of measuring the static display noise of a display device, using the display noise to create pseudo-random noise and subtracting the pseudorandom noise from a contone image. After the noise-compensated image data is quantized and displayed, the noise in the display device will substantially convert the noise-compensated image data back to contone image data with few or no contouring artifacts. Other embodiments include using the inherent noise of the human visual system instead of the static display noise, or both. Specific adjustments can be made to the noise of the human visual system for color displays.