ImageAlign [ref,image]
returns a version of image that is aligned with the reference image ref.
ImageAlign [ref,{image1,…,imagen}]
gives the result of aligning each of the imagei with the reference image ref.
ImageAlign [{image1,…,imagen}]
uses image1 as the reference image.
ImageAlign
ImageAlign [ref,image]
returns a version of image that is aligned with the reference image ref.
ImageAlign [ref,{image1,…,imagen}]
gives the result of aligning each of the imagei with the reference image ref.
ImageAlign [{image1,…,imagen}]
uses image1 as the reference image.
Details and Options
- ImageAlign [image1,image2] finds a transformation of image2 that registers it with image1 and returns the result of applying this transformation to image2.
- ImageAlign works with arbitrary 2D and 3D images.
- Resulting images have the same dimensions as the reference image.
- Use FindGeometricTransform to compute the geometric transformation used for alignments.
- The following options can be specified:
-
- Possible settings for the Method option are:
-
Automatic automatically choose a suitable method"Keypoints" use corresponding keypoints"MeanSquareGradientDescent" minimize the mean square distance of corresponding pixels"Fourier" Fourier-based registration"FourierBlurInvariant" blur invariant Fourier-based registration
- With the default setting TransformationClass->Automatic , ImageAlign attempts to find the simplest possible transformation.
- Possible transformations in order of increasing complexity are:
-
"Translation" translation only"Rigid" translation and rotation"Similarity" translation, rotation, and scaling"Affine" linear transformation and translation"Perspective" linear fractional transformation
Examples
open all close allBasic Examples (2)
Align a part of an image with the full image:
Align two 3D volumes:
Scope (2)
Align a list of three images to a reference image:
Align a list of three images, using the first image as the reference:
Three images are returned:
Options (11)
Background (1)
By default, a transparent background is used:
Specify a different background color:
Method (5)
By default, ImageAlign uses an automatic combination of methods and initializations:
The "Keypoints" method works well with natural 2D photos:
Use "KAZE" keypoints:
Use all keypoints detected by multiple methods:
The "MeanSquareGradientDescent" method uses dense distances between images:
This method typically needs a large initial overlap between images:
The "Fourier" method can align images even with a small overlap:
Use the "FourierBlurInvariant" method in the presence of noise and motion blur:
TransformationClass (5)
Restrict the transformation to only translation:
"Rigid" transformation allows for rotations in addition to translations:
"Similarity" transforms allow for translation, rotation, and scaling:
Allow any affine transformation:
Perspective transformation:
Applications (4)
Align an image with its mirror image:
Overlay the aligned images:
Align two different images of the same object:
Align images before performing focus stacking:
Perform focus stacking:
Compare with the stacking without alignment:
Properties & Relations (2)
For aligning images using a specific set of corresponding points, use FindGeometricTransform :
Transform the image with ImagePerspectiveTransformation :
Use FindGeometricTransform to find the geometric transformation that aligns images:
Stitch images together by transforming one and composing on top of the other one:
See Also
ImageStitch ImageCorrespondingPoints FindGeometricTransform ImageKeypoints ImageTransformation ImageCorrelate
Function Repository: ImageAlignFaces
History
Introduced in 2010 (8.0) | Updated in 2014 (10.0) ▪ 2015 (10.2) ▪ 2016 (11.0) ▪ 2017 (11.1) ▪ 2021 (13.0)
Text
Wolfram Research (2010), ImageAlign, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/ImageAlign.html (updated 2021).
CMS
Wolfram Language. 2010. "ImageAlign." Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Wolfram Research. Last Modified 2021. https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/ImageAlign.html.
APA
Wolfram Language. (2010). ImageAlign. Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Retrieved from https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/ImageAlign.html
BibTeX
@misc{reference.wolfram_2025_imagealign, author="Wolfram Research", title="{ImageAlign}", year="2021", howpublished="\url{https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/ImageAlign.html}", note=[Accessed: 24-November-2025]}
BibLaTeX
@online{reference.wolfram_2025_imagealign, organization={Wolfram Research}, title={ImageAlign}, year={2021}, url={https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/ImageAlign.html}, note=[Accessed: 24-November-2025]}