Image Processing: Object Segmentation Using Full-Spectrum Matching of Albedo Derived from Colour Images

An image segmentation method has a training phase, and a segmentation phase. In the training phase a frame of pixel lated data from a camera is processed using information on camera characteristics to render it camera-independent. The camera independent data are processed using a chosen value of illuminant spectral characteristics to derive reflectivity data of the items in the image. Pixels of high reflectivity are established. Then, using data from the high reflectivity pixels, the actual illuminant spectral characteristics are established. The illuminant data are then processed to determine information on the illumination of the scene represented by the frame of pixel lated data to derive reflectivity data of the scene. The segmentation phase comprises operating on a subsequent frame of pixel lated data to render it camera-independent and using the determined illumination information to process the camera independent data to determine reflectivity data of the scene to derive a foreground mask.