Method for a semi-automatic judgement of a photo-finish image

A method for semi-automatically judging a photo-finish image to define on the photo-finish image at least one judging line corresponding to an object or an athlete to be judged, the method being implemented by an image processing system comprising at least one photo-finish camera provided with an image sensor having a matrix of pixels, the image sensor being adapted to detect variations in the intensity of light received by the pixels of the matrix, and an image processing unit, wherein the method comprises the following steps:

• manually defining a reference point in the vicinity of the object or part of the athlete to be judged,
• analyzing columns of pixels contained in an analysis zone defined between the reference point and the object or athlete to be judged, this analysis zone being defined between two lines extending on either side of the horizontal time axis from the reference point, these two lines delimiting the analysis zone being set so as to define an angular separation of 90 degrees, and
• when a variation in the light intensity received by at least one pixel of one of the columns of pixels contained in the analysis zone is detected, referencing said column as a judgement line.