Ranking images using customized fuzzy dominant color descriptors

Abstract

In this paper we describe an approach for defining customized color descriptors for image retrieval. In particular, a customized fuzzy dominant color descriptor is proposed on the basis of a finite collection of fuzzy colors designed specifically for a certain user. Fuzzy colors modeling the semantics of a color name are defined as fuzzy subsets of colors on an ordinary color space, filling the semantic gap between the color representation in computers and the subjective human perception. The design of fuzzy colors is based on a collection of color names and corresponding crisp representatives provided by the user. The descriptor is defined as a fuzzy set over the customized fuzzy colors (i.e. a level-2 fuzzy set), taking into account the imprecise concept that is modelled, in which membership degrees represent the dominance of each color. The dominance of each fuzzy color is calculated on the basis of a fuzzy quantifier representing the notion of dominance, and a fuzzy histogram representing as a fuzzy quantity the percentage of pixels that match each fuzzy color. The obtained descriptor can be employed in a large amount of applications. We illustrate the usefulness of the descriptor by a particular application in image retrieval. © 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.