Segmentation of human face using gradient-based approach

Selin Baskan; M. Mete Bulut; Volkan Atalay

doi:10.1117/12.420924

4 April 2001 Segmentation of human face using gradient-based approach

Selin Baskan, M. Mete Bulut, Volkan Atalay

Proceedings Volume 4301, Machine Vision Applications in Industrial Inspection IX; (2001) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.420924
Event: Photonics West 2001 - Electronic Imaging, 2001, San Jose, CA, United States

Abstract

This paper describes a method for automatic segmentation of facial features such as eyebrows, eyes, nose, mouth and ears in color images. This work is an initial step for wide range of applications based on feature-based approaches, such as face recognition, lip-reading, gender estimation, facial expression analysis, etc. Human face can be characterized by its skin color and nearly elliptical shape. For this purpose, face detection is performed using color and shape information. Uniform illumination is assumed. No restrictions on glasses, make-up, beard, etc. are imposed. Facial features are extracted using the vertically and horizontally oriented gradient projections. The gradient of a minimum with respect to its neighbor maxima gives the boundaries of a facial feature. Each facial feature has a different horizontal characteristic. These characteristics are derived by extensive experimentation with many face images. Using fuzzy set theory, the similarity between the candidate and the feature characteristic under consideration is calculated. Gradient-based method is accompanied by the anthropometrical information, for robustness. Ear detection is performed using contour-based shape descriptors. This method detects the facial features and circumscribes each facial feature with the smallest rectangle possible. AR database is used for testing. The developed method is also suitable for real-time systems.

Citation Download Citation

Selin Baskan, M. Mete Bulut, and Volkan Atalay "Segmentation of human face using gradient-based approach", Proc. SPIE 4301, Machine Vision Applications in Industrial Inspection IX, (4 April 2001); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.420924

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