Automatic extraction of filled-in items from bank-check images

Abstract

In this paper we propose a new method to extract separately filled-in items from Japanese bank-checks based on prior knowledge about their color characteristics and layout. We have analyzed the bank-check characteristics and proposed a model that can be used to extract the filled-in items applicable to any Japanese bank-checks. The areas where the filled-in item is supposed to appear are first extracted through a template. Then the filled-in characters and seal imprints are extracted on the basis of their color characteristics in HSV color space. The results of testing experiments show that this extraction method is capable of extracting the filled-in items from most Japanese bank-checks. © Springer-Verlag 2004.