Comprehensive analysis of edge detection in color image processing

Various approaches to edge detection for color images, including techniques extended from monochrome edge detection as well as vector space approaches , are examined. In particular, edge detection techniques based on vector or der statistic operators and difference vector operators are studied in deta il. Numerous edge detectors are obtained as special cases of these two clas ses of operators. The effect of distance measures on the performance of dif ferent color edge detectors is studied by employing distance measures other than the Euclidean norm. Variations are introduced to both the vector orde r statistic operators and the difference vector operators to improve noise performance. They both demonstrate the ability to attenuate noise with adde d algorithm complexity. Among them, the difference vector operator with ada ptive filtering shows the most promising results. Other vector directional filtering techniques are also introduced and utilized for color edge detect ion. Both quantitative and subjective tests are performed in evaluating the performance of the edge detectors, and a detailed comparison is presented, (C) 1999 Society of Photo-Optical instrumentation Engineers. [S0091-3286(9 9)00904-6].