An Automatic Interpolation Method of Grayvalued Images Utilizing Density Contour Lines

Abstract

This paper presents an automatic method of interpolation or inbetweening for gray valued images, which have been difficult to be processed automatically. The method consists of three parts. The first i s the extraction of density contour lines from a pair of gray valued key frame images, the second i s the interpolation of the contour lines and the l a s t is the generation of in-between gray valued images. In the second part, the correlation of corresponding contour lines of the key frames i s carried out automatically utilizing some kinds of similarity functions. The method is applied to a pair of pictures of a plaster head photographed slightly different directions and generates a very smooth rotating animation picture of the p l a s t e r head. This method has much applicability to computer animation and motion picture analysis. Stereo pair images are available from key frame pictures of objects photographed from any direction. Interpolation of color images is also possible.