Eigenspace-based face recognition: a comparative study of different approaches

Eigenspace-based face recognition corresponds to one of the most successful methodologies for the computational recognition of faces in digital images. Starting with the Eigenface-Algorithm, different eigenspace-based approaches for the recognition of faces have been proposed. They differ mostly in the kind of projection method used (standard, differential, or kernel eigenspace), in the projection algorithm employed, in the use of simple or differential images before/after projection, and in the similarity matching criterion or classification method employed. The aim of this paper is to present an independent comparative study among some of the main eigenspace-based approaches. We believe that carrying out independent studies is relevant, since comparisons are normally performed using the implementations of the research groups that have proposed each method, which does not consider completely equal working conditions for the algorithms. Very often, a contest between the abilities of the research groups rather than a comparison between methods is performed. This study considers theoretical aspects as well as simulations performed using the Yale Face Database, a database with few classes and several images per class, and FERET, a database with many classes and few images per class.