A recursive clustering technique for color picture segmentation

A recursive cluster detection technique is described for segmenting the color pictures. The proposed method operates in the (L*,a*,b*)-uniform color space and detects image cluster by fitting them some circular-cylindrical decision volumes. This estimates the clusters´ distributions in the uniform color space without imposing any constraints on their forms. Boundaries of the decision elements consists of two planes of constant lightness, two cylinders of constant chroma, and two planes of constant hue. They are determined using 1-D histograms of the L*,H⁰,C* cylindrical coordinates of the space. The detected clusters are then correctly isolated from their neighbors by projecting their estimated color distributions onto the Fisher linear discriminant function for 1-D thresholding