Combined forward and backward anisotropic diffusion filtering of color images

Abstract

In this paper a novel approach to the problem of edge preserving noise reduction in color images is proposed and evaluated. The new algorithm is based on the combined forward and backward anisotropic diffusion with incorporated time dependent cooling process. This method is able to efficiently remove image noise while preserving and even enhancing image edges. The proposed algorithm can be used as a first step of different techniques, which are based on color, shape and spatial location information. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2002.