Image Description via the Multiresolution Intensity Axis of Symmetry

Abstract

A fundamental approach for providing an image description in terms of visually sensible image regions is described. It involves a) the representation of the image by a that captures image information and then b) the definition of a hierarchy of components of that by the order of annihilation of those components as the image is continuously simplified by lowering the scale. The information-capturing essential structure is chosen so that image regions are associated with each component during the image simplification. To guarantee image simplification, successive Gaussian blurring is chosen as the means of scale lowering. We argue that an that describes shape in both the spatial and intensity dimensions will produce an image description most likely to be useful for computer or human specification of image objects. In particular, we suggest that the intensity axis of symmetry (IAS) satisfies all desirable criteria for an structure. With such shape-based structures the approach of image description via annihilation under image simplification becomes a very attractive paradigm.