Contrast-based color image segmentation
In this letter, we propose a color image segmentation algorithm based on contrast information. Given a color image, we use contrast information, instead of the commonly used derivative information, to detect edges. To fit for human's visual perception, the CIE L/sup */a/sup */b/sup */ color space is used and the /spl Delta/E/sub ab/ color difference is adopted as the measure of color contrast. A subjective experiment is made to demonstrate the weak correlation between the perceived color contrast and the levels of (L/sup */,a/sup */,b/sup */). This experiment implies the feasibility of using a single-threshold scheme to suppress perceptually faint boundaries. A complete segmentation scheme is proposed and the simulation results demonstrate the superiority of this approach in providing reasonable and reliable color image segmentation.