Convert UIImage to grayscale keeping image quality

Question

I have this extension (found in obj-c and I converted it to Swift3) to get the same UIImage but grayscaled:

public fun         


        

Answer 1

As per Joe answer we easily converted Original to B&W . But back to Original image refer these code :

var context = CIContext(options: nil)
var startingImage : UIImage = UIImage()

func Noir() {     
    startingImage = imgView.image!
    var inputImage = CIImage(image: imgView.image!)!
    let options:[String : AnyObject] = [CIDetectorImageOrientation:1 as AnyObject]
    let filters = inputImage.autoAdjustmentFilters(options: options)

    for filter: CIFilter in filters {
        filter.setValue(inputImage, forKey: kCIInputImageKey)
        inputImage =  filter.outputImage!
    }
    let cgImage = context.createCGImage(inputImage, from: inputImage.extent)
    self.imgView.image =  UIImage(cgImage: cgImage!)

    //Filter Logic
    let currentFilter = CIFilter(name: "CIPhotoEffectNoir")
    currentFilter!.setValue(CIImage(image: UIImage(cgImage: cgImage!)), forKey: kCIInputImageKey)

    let output = currentFilter!.outputImage
    let cgimg = context.createCGImage(output!, from: output!.extent)
    let processedImage = UIImage(cgImage: cgimg!)
    imgView.image = processedImage
}

func Original(){ 
    imgView.image = startingImage
}

Answer 2

Joe's answer as an UIImage exension for Swift 4 working correctly for different scales:

extension UIImage {
    var noir: UIImage {
        let context = CIContext(options: nil)
        let currentFilter = CIFilter(name: "CIPhotoEffectNoir")!
        currentFilter.setValue(CIImage(image: self), forKey: kCIInputImageKey)
        let output = currentFilter.outputImage!
        let cgImage = context.createCGImage(output, from: output.extent)!
        let processedImage = UIImage(cgImage: cgImage, scale: scale, orientation: imageOrientation)

        return processedImage
    }
}

Answer 3

save curent orientation and scale:

extension UIImage {

func noir() -> UIImage {
    let context = CIContext(options: nil)

    let currentFilter = CIFilter(name: "CIPhotoEffectNoir")
    currentFilter!.setValue(CIImage(image: self), forKey: kCIInputImageKey)
    let output = currentFilter!.outputImage
    let cgimg = context.createCGImage(output!, from: output!.extent)
    let processedImage = UIImage(cgImage: cgimg!, scale: scale, orientation: imageOrientation)
    return processedImage
}}

Answer 4

I'd use CoreImage, which may keep the quality.

func convertImageToBW(image:UIImage) -> UIImage {

    let filter = CIFilter(name: "CIPhotoEffectMono")

    // convert UIImage to CIImage and set as input

    let ciInput = CIImage(image: image)
    filter?.setValue(ciInput, forKey: "inputImage")

    // get output CIImage, render as CGImage first to retain proper UIImage scale

    let ciOutput = filter?.outputImage
    let ciContext = CIContext()
    let cgImage = ciContext.createCGImage(ciOutput!, from: (ciOutput?.extent)!)

    return UIImage(cgImage: cgImage!)
}

Depending on how you use this code, you may want to create the CIContext outside of it for performance reasons.

Answer 5

Here's a category in objective c. Note that, critically, this version takes scale into consideration.

- (UIImage *)grayscaleImage{
    return [self imageWithCIFilter:@"CIPhotoEffectMono"];
}

- (UIImage *)imageWithCIFilter:(NSString*)filterName{
    CIImage *unfiltered = [CIImage imageWithCGImage:self.CGImage];
    CIFilter *filter = [CIFilter filterWithName:filterName];
    [filter setValue:unfiltered forKey:kCIInputImageKey];
    CIImage *filtered = [filter outputImage];
    CIContext *context = [CIContext contextWithOptions:nil];
    CGImageRef cgimage = [context createCGImage:filtered fromRect:CGRectMake(0, 0, self.size.width*self.scale, self.size.height*self.scale)];
    // Do not use initWithCIImage because that renders the filter each time the image is displayed.  This causes slow scrolling in tableviews.
    UIImage *image = [[UIImage alloc] initWithCGImage:cgimage scale:self.scale orientation:self.imageOrientation];
    CGImageRelease(cgimage);
    return image;
}

Answer 6

Try below code:

Note: code Updated and error been fixed...

• Code tested in Swift 3.
• originalImage is the image that you trying to convert.

Answer 1:

     var context = CIContext(options: nil)

Update: CIContext is the Core Image component that handles rendering and All of the processing of a core image is done in a CIContext. This is somewhat similar to a Core Graphics or OpenGL context.For more info available in Apple Doc.

     func Noir() {

        let currentFilter = CIFilter(name: "CIPhotoEffectNoir") 
        currentFilter!.setValue(CIImage(image: originalImage.image!), forKey: kCIInputImageKey)
        let output = currentFilter!.outputImage 
        let cgimg = context.createCGImage(output!,from: output!.extent)
        let processedImage = UIImage(cgImage: cgimg!)
        originalImage.image = processedImage
      }

Also you need to Considered following filter that can produce similar effect

• CIPhotoEffectMono
• CIPhotoEffectTonal

Output from Answer 1:

Output from Answer 2:

Improved answer :

Answer 2: Auto adjusting input image before applying coreImage filter

var context = CIContext(options: nil)

func Noir() {


    //Auto Adjustment to Input Image
    var inputImage = CIImage(image: originalImage.image!)
    let options:[String : AnyObject] = [CIDetectorImageOrientation:1 as AnyObject]
    let filters = inputImage!.autoAdjustmentFilters(options: options)

    for filter: CIFilter in filters {
       filter.setValue(inputImage, forKey: kCIInputImageKey)
   inputImage =  filter.outputImage
      }
    let cgImage = context.createCGImage(inputImage!, from: inputImage!.extent)
    self.originalImage.image =  UIImage(cgImage: cgImage!)

    //Apply noir Filter
    let currentFilter = CIFilter(name: "CIPhotoEffectTonal") 
    currentFilter!.setValue(CIImage(image: UIImage(cgImage: cgImage!)), forKey: kCIInputImageKey)

    let output = currentFilter!.outputImage 
    let cgimg = context.createCGImage(output!, from: output!.extent)
    let processedImage = UIImage(cgImage: cgimg!)
    originalImage.image = processedImage

}

Note: If you want to see the better result.You should be testing your code on real device not in the simulator...