High Pass Filter

Use the Database Tools > Filters > High Pass Filter menu option (HIGHPASS GX) to apply a high-pass (sharpening) filter to a channel.

High Pass Filter dialog options

Channel to filter

Name of the input channel to filter

Script Parameter: HIGHPASS.IN

Output channel

Name of the filtered output channel

Script Parameter: HIGHPASS.OUT

Cutoff wavelength (fiducials)

Long wavelength cutoff value in fiducials

Script Parameter: HIGHPASS.CUTOFF

Application Notes

A high-pass filter sharpens the input data by the application of a convolution filter. The filter is called 'high-pass' because it allows high wavenumbers (high frequencies) to pass to the output channel. Features in the data that are longer than the long wavelength cutoff will removed. The convolution filter is designed using the method of Fraser, 1966. The default length will be as long as the cutoff wavelength, which produces a filter that exhibits a minimum of side effects, such as Gibb's phenomena.

A low-pass filter is simply a band-pass filter with the long-wavelength cutoff set to a very large number. If you would like to control the length of the filter, use the BANDPASS GX and set the filter length directly.

A low-pass filter is considered linear because all data is treated by the filter equally. This can be a problem when attempting to remove short-wavelength but high amplitude features, because quite strong filters may be required. Such filters can affect parts of the data that you did not intend to disturb. An alternative is to use a non-linear filter such as NLFILT.