Exploring the Equivalence of Closed-Set Generative and Real Data Augmentation in Image Classification

Fuente: arXiv
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Autori principali: Wang, Haowen, Zhang, Guowei, Zhang, Xiang, Chen, Zeyuan, Xu, Haiyang, Kwark, Dou Hoon, Tu, Zhuowen
Natura: Preprint
Pubblicazione: 2025
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author Wang, Haowen
Zhang, Guowei
Zhang, Xiang
Chen, Zeyuan
Xu, Haiyang
Kwark, Dou Hoon
Tu, Zhuowen
author_facet Wang, Haowen
Zhang, Guowei
Zhang, Xiang
Chen, Zeyuan
Xu, Haiyang
Kwark, Dou Hoon
Tu, Zhuowen
contents In this paper, we address a key scientific problem in machine learning: Given a training set for an image classification task, can we train a generative model on this dataset to enhance the classification performance? (i.e., closed-set generative data augmentation). We start by exploring the distinctions and similarities between real images and closed-set synthetic images generated by advanced generative models. Through extensive experiments, we offer systematic insights into the effective use of closed-set synthetic data for augmentation. Notably, we empirically determine the equivalent scale of synthetic images needed for augmentation. In addition, we also show quantitative equivalence between the real data augmentation and open-set generative augmentation (generative models trained using data beyond the given training set). While it aligns with the common intuition that real images are generally preferred, our empirical formulation also offers a guideline to quantify the increased scale of synthetic data augmentation required to achieve comparable image classification performance. Our results on natural and medical image datasets further illustrate how this effect varies with the baseline training set size and the amount of synthetic data incorporated.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2508_09550
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Exploring the Equivalence of Closed-Set Generative and Real Data Augmentation in Image Classification
Wang, Haowen
Zhang, Guowei
Zhang, Xiang
Chen, Zeyuan
Xu, Haiyang
Kwark, Dou Hoon
Tu, Zhuowen
Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition
In this paper, we address a key scientific problem in machine learning: Given a training set for an image classification task, can we train a generative model on this dataset to enhance the classification performance? (i.e., closed-set generative data augmentation). We start by exploring the distinctions and similarities between real images and closed-set synthetic images generated by advanced generative models. Through extensive experiments, we offer systematic insights into the effective use of closed-set synthetic data for augmentation. Notably, we empirically determine the equivalent scale of synthetic images needed for augmentation. In addition, we also show quantitative equivalence between the real data augmentation and open-set generative augmentation (generative models trained using data beyond the given training set). While it aligns with the common intuition that real images are generally preferred, our empirical formulation also offers a guideline to quantify the increased scale of synthetic data augmentation required to achieve comparable image classification performance. Our results on natural and medical image datasets further illustrate how this effect varies with the baseline training set size and the amount of synthetic data incorporated.
title Exploring the Equivalence of Closed-Set Generative and Real Data Augmentation in Image Classification
topic Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.09550