Fast and effective image inpainting for reticle removal

A system for removing reticles using image inpainting, the system comprising:

• a memory device configured to receive an original input image having at least one horizontal reticle or at least one vertical reticle;
• a horizontal reticle mask image for said at least one horizontal reticle;
• a vertical reticle mask image for said at least one vertical reticle;
• a processor configured to:
• remove reticles including:
• inpaint, on the original input image, vertical pixels for the at least one vertical reticle with a horizontal filter, thus creating a first inpainted region;
• inpaint, on the original input image, horizontal pixels for the at least one horizontal reticle with a vertical filter, thus creating a second inpainted region;
• inpaint, on the original input image, an intersection of the at least one horizontal reticle and the at least one vertical reticle with a two-dimensional filter, thus creating a third inpainted region;
• output an output image that combines the first inpainted region, the second inpainted region, and the third inpainted region into a single inpainted image;
• determine whether a maximum change in pixel intensity in any one of the first inpainted region, the second inpainted region or the third inpainted region exceeds a predetermined threshold, and if so, the output image is the original input image;
• determine whether a maximum change in the pixel intensity in any one of the first inpainted region, the second inpainted region or the third inpainted region is less than the predetermined threshold, and if so, outputting a final output image with the reticles removed;
• and
• an input device configured to select the first inpainted region, the second inpainted region and the third inpainted region.

A method for removing reticles using image inpainting, the method comprising:

• first, receiving, at a memory device, an original input image having at least one horizontal reticle or at least one vertical reticle;
• second, receiving, at the memory device, a horizontal reticle mask image for said at least one horizontal reticle or a vertical reticle mask image for said at least one vertical reticle;
• third, in a first inpainting step, inpainting, via a processor, on the original input image, vertical pixels for the at least one vertical reticle with a horizontal one dimensional filter, thus creating a first inpainted region;
• fourth, in a second inpainting step, inpainting, via the processor, on the original input image, horizontal pixels for the at least one horizontal reticle with a vertical one dimensional filter, thus creating a second inpainted region;
• fifth, in a third inpainting step, inpainting, via the processor, an intersection of the horizontal and vertical reticles with a two-dimensional filter, thus creating a third inpainted region;
• sixth, selecting, via an input device, the first inpainted region, the second inpainted region and the third inpainted region;
• seventh, outputting, via the processor, an output image that combines the first inpainted region, the second inpainted region and the third inpainted region into a single inpainted image;
• eighth, determining, via the processor, whether a maximum change in pixel intensity in any one of the first inpainted region, the second inpainted region or the third inpainted region equals or exceeds a predetermined threshold, and if so, repeating the first step through the eighth step, wherein the output image is the original input image;
• ninth, otherwise, correcting, via the processor, texture in the first, second and third inpainted regions.