McAndrew presents the basic concepts of image processing, in a setting that is accessible to readers who have minimal familiarity with the subject. One of the main features of this text is its use of MATLAB and its associated image processing toolbox, software tools that are relatively available to science and engineering students at many institutions of higher education. The author takes full advantage of these high-level software packages to present image processing concepts, through succinct and compact programs that even a reader who has had no prior experience with MATLAB would feel encouraged to run.

The text contains 16 chapters and two appendices (introductions to MATLAB and the fast Fourier transform). The first four chapters introduce the basic terminology of image processing, ranging from how an image is digitized to how color is embedded in its mathematical description. The next two chapters address filtering in MATLAB; various low- and high-pass filters are introduced, the concepts of Gaussian and nonlinear filters are discussed, and applications such as edge sharpening and anamorphosis are presented. It is, however, in chapter 7, where the author presents the Fourier transform, that the freshness of his writing style comes through. It is difficult to imagine that one could bring novelty to presenting the concept of the discrete Fourier transform; the author succeeds in doing just that, and later, in the appendix on the FFT, continues to present a complex subject masterfully, without relying on any prior background from his reader.

In the remaining chapters, the standard concepts of compression, restoration, and segmentation are introduced. These concepts are explored for both gray scale and colored images. A chapter on wavelets gives the author another chance to use his gift for introducing a rather complex mathematical concept to the reader. Most of the computer programs in this chapter are presented in their entirety, while, at the same time, the author provides access to a free Web site, where the wavelet programs introduced in this chapter, as well as others, can be downloaded and installed. Overall, this text provides an excellent introduction to digital image processing for undergraduate students.