Color image segmentation: a review

Abstract

Image segmentation is the process of dividing an image into homogenous regions. It is an essential step towards high-level image processing task such as image analysis, pattern recognition and computer vision. Processing of color images has become an important issue due to its huge usage in computer vision applications. It is observed that most of the color image segmentation techniques are derived from monochrome image segmentation. The techniques for segmentation of monochrome images are based on the principles of histogram thresholding, edge detection, region growing etc. Many color image segmentation algorithms using different color models and these principles are proposed. Extraction of objects within an image without a prior knowledge is one of the important issues in segmentation area. Novel approaches such as fuzzy set theory, neural network and neuro-fuzzy based segmentation are coming up to tackle this problem. This paper is an endeavor to review various algorithms and recent advances in color image segmentation.