Exclusively Dark (ExDark) Image Dataset (Official Site)

ArXiv

Updated on Sept 30, 2026 (Updated the README.md. Added DATASET_TERMS.md, RIGHTS_NOTICE.md & THIRD_PARTY_NOTICES.md)

Updated on Sept 02, 2022 (Updated the dataset link)

Updated on June 02, 2019 (Code for low-light image enhancement is released)

Updated on Oct. 31, 2018 (Accepted for publication in CVIU)

Released on May 29, 2018

Description

In order to facilitate a new object detection and image enhancement research particularly in the low-light environment, we introduce the Exclusively Dark (ExDark) dataset (CVIU2019). The Exclusively Dark (ExDARK) dataset is a collection of 7,363 low-light images from very low-light environments to twilight (i.e 10 different conditions) with 12 object classes (similar to PASCAL VOC) annotated on both image class level and local object bounding boxes.

Source Code

The source code for our work on low-light image enhancement is now available. Please refer to the SPIC folder.

Citation

If you find this dataset useful for your research, please cite

@article{Exdark,
  title = {Getting to Know Low-light Images with The Exclusively Dark Dataset},
  author = {Loh, Yuen Peng and Chan, Chee Seng},
  journal = {Computer Vision and Image Understanding},
  volume = {178},
  pages = {30-42},
  year = {2019},
  doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cviu.2018.10.010}
}

Feedback

Suggestions and opinions on this dataset (both positive and negative) are greatly welcomed. Please contact the authors by sending an email to lexloh2009 at hotmail.com or cs.chan at um.edu.my.

License, Dataset Terms and Rights

ExDark contains different categories of material. Different terms apply to different components:

Material	Applicable terms
Original software code and scripts owned by the ExDark authors	Applicable software licence stated for that component. See the relevant LICENSE file.
ExDark annotations, bounding boxes, class labels, metadata, dataset splits and related project-created documentation	See DATASET_TERMS.md.
Underlying photographs, movie frames, images originating from third-party websites or third-party datasets, and other third-party material	Not licensed under the ExDark Dataset Research Use Terms unless expressly stated. Separate third-party rights may apply.

Academic research use

The ExDark Dataset Materials, as defined in DATASET_TERMS.md, may be used for non-commercial academic research, education, benchmarking and scholarly publication subject to those terms.

Where a project is carried out by, with, or under the sponsorship of a for-profit entity, written confirmation from the Licensor is required before relying on the academic-use permission.

Commercial use

Commercial use of ExDark Dataset Materials controlled by the Licensor requires prior written permission.

Nothing in these terms grants commercial or other rights in underlying third-party images or other third-party materials.

For permission requests, contact: Dr. Chee Seng Chan at cs.chan at um.edu.my.

Rights notice

Permissions are granted only to the extent that the Licensor owns or is authorised to grant the relevant rights. See RIGHTS_NOTICE.md.

These clarified terms apply prospectively from 01 October 2026 and do not purport to revoke or determine the scope of rights validly granted under an earlier version of this repository.

ExDark annotations, metadata and original project-created dataset materials: © 2018–2026 Chee Seng Chan.