A robust algorithm for text detection in color images

Text detection in color images has become an active research area since recent decades. In this paper, we present a novel approach to accurately detect text in color images possibly with a complex background. First, we use an elaborate edge detection algorithm to extract all possible text edge pixels. Second connected component analysis is employed to construct text candidate region and classify part non-text regions. Third each text candidate region is verified with texture features derived from wavelet domain. Finally, the expectation maximization algorithm is introduced to binarize text regions to prepare data for recognition. In contrast to previous approach, our algorithm combines both the efficiency of connected component based method and robustness of texture based analysis. Experimental results show that our algorithm is robust in text detection with respect to different character size, orientation, color and language and can provide reliable text binarization result.