Many image quality and image difference metrics have been proposed over the last decades. An important factor when evaluating the image quality or image difference is the viewing distance. In this paper we propose a new image difference metric based on the simulation of detail visibility and total variation. The simulation of detail visibility by using shearlets takes into account the viewing conditions and the viewing distance, and calculation of the image difference is done by total variation. Evaluation has been carried out to verify the simulation of image detail visibility, and it is showing promising results. Evaluation of the new image difference metric is also promising.