A novel image inpainting method based on a modified Lengyel–Epstein model

With the increasing popularity of digital images, developing advanced algorithms that can accurately reconstruct damaged images while maintaining high visual quality is crucial. Traditional image restoration algorithms often struggle with complex structures and details, while recent deep learning methods, though effective, face significant challenges related to high data dependency and computational costs. To resolve these challenges, we propose a novel image inpainting model, which is based on a modified Lengyel–Epstein (LE) model. We discretize the modified LE model by using an explicit Euler algorithm. A series of restoration experiments are conducted on various image types, including binary images, grayscale images, index images, and color images. The experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness and robustness of the method, and even under complex conditions of noise interference and local damage, the proposed method can exhibit excellent repair performance. To quantify the fidelity of these restored images, we use the peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR), a widely accepted metric in image processing. The calculation results further demonstrate the applicability of our model across different image types. Moreover, by evaluating CPU time, our method can achieve ideal repair results within a remarkably brief duration. The proposed method validates significant potential for real-world applications in diverse domains of image restoration and enhancement.