This command is used for cosmetic improvement of images. Adding a small amount of noise can cover up minor blemishes. It can also solve the problem of areas with gradual changes in brightness; the human eye is very effective at detecting the shift from one color or brightness level to the next, resulting in a banded or contoured appearance (Mach bands). Adding a small amount of random noise can eliminate this visual effect.
Availability of this feature depends on Product Level.
The Amplitude of the noise can be controlled, as can the Type of statistical distribution. Gaussian noise is typical of CCD images and is usually the best choice. When Gaussian is selected, the Amplitude controls the standard deviation of the noise. Uniform noise can also be selected, in which case Amplitude controls the peak-to-peak variation in the noise.