Multi-scale crest line extraction based on half Gaussian Kernels

Crest line extraction has always been a challenging task in image processing and its applications. It is possible to detect ridges and valleys in images using second order filters. In order to estimate crest lines of variable widths, a multi-scale analysis of the image is required. In this paper we propose a new ridge/valley detection method in images based on the difference of rotating Gaussian semi filters adapted in a multi-scale process. Due to the directional filters, we obtain a new ridge/valley anisotropic detector enabling very precise detection of ridge/valley of varied widths. Moreover, as the detector filters compute the two directions of crest lines, even highly bended crest lines are correctly extracted. Numerical comparisons with other oriented Gaussian filters and results on real images validate the interest of this method.