An interesting article, especially given the links to the YouTube interview of Cornelius Lánczos. I've used the Lánczos algorithm for years for interpolation bu

An interesting article, especially given the links to the YouTube interview of Cornelius Lánczos. I've used the Lánczos algorithm for years for interpolation but until now I'd not put a face and voice to his work. It's interesting to compare Lánczos (and other) resampling algorithms in digital imaging with what's known as K-factor (aka K-rating)—a measurement in analog television for rating image quality. There are interesting similarities between the two. An image is an image whether it's generated digitally or by analog means, so it's only to be expected that ways of measuring image quality between these two systems would have some things in common. That's done by comparing the output signal with the original image but it's not as straightforward as it seems as human perception and subjectivity get in the way. As per article we've seen Lánczos, (sync, (sin x)/x) resampling quality is better than say nearest neighbour, Mitchell, triangle, etc. but the problem of human subjectivity remains as it's often difficult to compare image quality visually and or consistently. Analog television has long had methods of objectively evaluating images without the human factor and again the solution is mathematical, and as I'll show it has some interesting parallels with Lánczos resampling. To determine image quality/K-factor of a television transmission system an electronic test signal replaces the subjective image and it's measured for distortion products after it exits the system. The mathematical parameters of this test signal are carefully defined to detect distortions and artifacts that are most noticeable to the human eye. The test signal consists of a sine-squared pulse of specified duration followed by bar (a square wave with a transient response the same as the pulse). The K-factor is determined by measuring the deviation in the pulse and bar risetimes together with generated artifacts such as ringing and under and or overshoot. As the Pulse & Bar is a precision test signal input/output comparisons aren't necessary, thus a single measurement simplifies testing. For those interested see BBC Monograph 58 'Sine-squared Pulse and Bar Testing in Colour Television'. 1965. PDF https://www.bbc.co.uk/rd/publications/bbc_monograph_58 https://www.bbc.co.uk/rd/publications/bbc_monograph_58 Unfortunately, this ref. is behind a firewall: Macdiarmid, I.F. and Phillips, B. 'A Pulse & Bar Waveform Generator for Testing Television Links.' Proc I.E.E. Vol. 105, Part B, p.) 440. 1958.