High-Level Visual Masking of Image Compression Artefacts

We present the results of a subjective experiment where we measured detection thresholds for 2°wide noise targets placed in 23 different natural scenes. Unlike previous studies on visual masking, we focus particularly on dissociating cases of low-level and high-level masking. That is, cases where the target is not perceived predominantly due to limits of either early or late vision. To that end, we exploit the change blindness paradigm and analyse detection rates, times and primed subjective ratings of target visibility. Our results are of significance for developing advanced models of human vision for signal quality/fidelity assessment, particularly in the context of compression.