Method and system for correcting projective distortions using eigenpoints

A method for projective correction of an image containing at least one text portion that is distorted by perspective, the method comprising the steps of:

• image binarization, wherein said image is binarized;
• connected component analysis, wherein pixel blobs are detected in said at least one text portion of said binarized image and wherein for each of said pixel blobs a position determining pixel is selected on a pixel blob baseline of the pixel blob, said position determining pixel defining the position of the pixel blob in the binarized image;
• horizontal vanishing point determination, comprising estimating text baselines by means of said position determining pixels and determining a horizontal vanishing point of said at least one text portion by means of said text baselines;
• vertical vanishing point determination, wherein a vertical vanishing point is determined for said at least one text portion on the basis of vertical features thereof;
• projective correction, wherein said perspective in said image is corrected on the basis of said horizontal and vertical vanishing points.

A system for projective correction of an image containing at least one text portion that is distorted by perspective, the system comprising at least one processor and an associated storage containing a program executable by means of said at least one processor and comprising:

• first software code portions configured for image binarization, which when executed binarize said image;
• second software code portions configured for connected component analysis, which when executed detect pixel blobs in said at least one text portion of said binarized image;
• third software code portions configured for horizontal vanishing point determination, which when executed estimate text baselines by means of eigenpoints of said pixel blobs and determine a horizontal vanishing point of said at least one text portion by means of said text baselines;
• fourth software code portions configured for vertical vanishing point determination, which when executed determine a vertical vanishing point for said at least one text portion on the basis of vertical features thereof;
• fifth software code portions configured for projective correction, which when executed correct said perspective in said image on the basis of said horizontal and vertical vanishing points.

A non-transient storage medium on which a computer program product is stored comprising software code portions in a format executable on a computer device and configured for performing the following steps when executed on said computer device:

• image binarization, wherein an image is binarized;
• connected component analysis, wherein pixel blobs are detected in said at least one text portion of said binarized image;
• horizontal vanishing point determination, comprising estimating text baselines by means of eigenpoints of said pixel blobs and determining a horizontal vanishing point of said at least one text portion by means of said text baselines;
• vertical vanishing point determination, wherein a vertical vanishing point is determined for said at least one text portion on the basis of vertical features thereof;
• and projective correction, wherein said perspective in said image is corrected on the basis of said horizontal and vertical vanishing points.