Foreground / Background Separation In Digital Images

An apparatus for providing improved separation between foreground and background regions in a digital image of a scene, comprising a processor and one or more processor-readable media for programming the processor to control the apparatus to perform a method comprising:

• acquiring a main digital image;
• providing a first map comprising one or more regions within a main digital image, each having one or more pixels with a common characteristic;
• providing an object profile corresponding to a region of interest of said main digital image including an object candidate;
• determining that the object candidate within the region of interest matches an object portion of the object profile;
• determining an orientation of the region of interest within said main digital image;
• defining said object profile as comprising said object portion and at least a second portion adjacent said object portion having a known association and orientation relative to the object portion;
• comparing said region of interest with said object profile to determine whether said region of interest matches said object profile;
• and designating said region of interest as a foreground or background region based on said comparison.