A Threshold Selection Technique

Threshold selection for picture segmentation is relatively easy when the frequency distribution of gray levels in the picture is strongly bimodal, with the two peaks comparable insize and separated by a deep valley. This report describes a method of handling cases in which the peaks are very unequal in size and the valley is broad. A Laplacian operation is applied to the picture to determine points that lie on or near the edges of objects. Threshold selection becomes easier when the frequency distribution of gray levels of these points is used.