A new artistic information extraction method with multi channels and guided filters for calligraphy works

Abstract

The artistic beauty of Chinese calligraphy is constituted by two elements: form and spirit . To learn and study calligraphy works, both of form and spirit should be extracted correctly. However, most currently used calligraphy image extraction methods can only obtain form information. To address this problem, an extraction method, based on multi-channel and guided filters, is proposed in this study. The proposed method consists of three major operations: color space transformation, tablet and writing discrimination, and information extraction using guided filter. To simulate the human visual perception of calligraphy work, the color space of a calligraphy image is converted from RGB to CIELAB firstly. Then the calligraphy image is distinguished as either a tablet or a writing based on channel b. Finally, information extraction using guided filter is performed. For a tablet, a two-stage guided filtering strategy based on L channel is employed to reduce noise and obtain form information. For a writing, a guided filter based on channels L and a is used to extract both form and spirit information. To demonstrate the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed method, comparison experiments are implemented on both types of images. Experimental results reveal the advantages of the proposed method.

An integrated method for ancient Chinese tablet images de-noising based on assemble of multiple image smoothing filters

“…From them, people can read and learn about historical events and figures, even touch the feelings of calligraphers. Therefore, Chinese tablet works occupy an important position in the historical and cultural heritage of China, and be regarded as an important symbol of Chinese culture, also one of the precious treasures of Human [17].…”

“…What's more, some tablet images are noised so serious that the structures of Chinese characters in the images are too spoiled to distinguish. This makes a great obstacle for the preservation and usage of tablet works in the inheritance and development of Chinese traditional culture [16,17]. It is obvious that tablet image de-noising has significant meanings for the using of Chinese tablet images.…”

“…1 Introduction ancient calligraphy [17]. However, because of natural weathering and natural or manmade decay, there are usually massive noise in the original tablet images [16].…”

“…Too many image noises might lead characters too dim to observe, even damage the characters' structures, and thus make the characters difficult to recognize. It is obvious that tablet image de-noising has significant values for the learning and studying of the ancient Chinese calligraphy works [16,17].…”

“…For natural or man-made decay, there usually existing various kinds of noise in ancient tablet images, existing de-noising method only can reduce some special kinds of noise. In addition, aforementioned methods may damage and spoil the characters' structures, the integrity of which is essential for the beauty of Chinese calligraphy works [17].…”