Contents

Introduction

Images can be loaded into the tool, a structuring element defined or chosen from the list of predefined ones, and then the chosen transformation applied. The original and morphed images are displayed at the same time to visualize the changes that have been made. A third image displayed provides an interactive view that can be transformed pixel by pixel demonstrating exactly what the morphology is doing. This interactive view has an automatic zoom to show the individual pixels.

An online help facility provides explanation of all the transformations as well as guiding the user around the tool. This can be disabled if not required.

Two versions of the tool are available. The first may be used directly from this page. This restricted version allows you to load images from a choice of five.

The second version can be downloaded from this page onto your own system where you will be able to load in any of your own images.

The main features of the tool include:

• Defining your own structuring elements.
• Applying a morphological transformation from a list of many including finding the homotopic and non-homotopic skeletons.
• Animation of the sequential thinning and thickening transformations.
• Manual application of the basic transformations (erosion, dilation, opening and closing)
to demonstrate the effect of your structuring element locally in the image
• Replacement of the original image with the transformed one so that another transformation can be applied
to study the results of combining different transformations.
• Comparison by subtraction of the original image with the transformed one.
 

The Tool

Version 1

Run the morph engine applet

Version 2

Download the file. Then:

Unix systems:
Uncompress with     "gunzip morph.tar.gz"   followed by   "tar -xf morph.tar.gz"
Then run with           "java morph"
 Download the gzipped Tool

PCs:
You should get a file called "Morph.zip"  
Then unzip and run.
 Download the zipped Tool

Instructions

Information is provided for:
Loading a picture
Defining a structuring element
Applying a simple transformation
Applying a sequential transformation
Locally applying a transformation
Notes
 

Loading a picture

• Choose 'Load' from the File menu
• Select the .gif or .jpeg file you would like to process (if the file is not binary then the program will not load it)
• Click 'OK'

Defining a structuring element

• Choose the size of the grid in the top right of the window
• Click 'Move Origin' and then click on the square you want the elements representative point to be (the red cross will now occupy this square).
• Now fill in the element by clicking on the squares. A white square represents a 0, clicking once will turn a square blue representing a 1 and clicking again will turn it grey meaning it is not used in the transformation (a 'don't care'). Clicking more times simply cycles back to through the values.
• The element is now defined.

Applying a simple transformation

• >From the Morph menu choose a simple transformation (e.g. 'Erode').
• The transformed image is now displayed in the rightmost image.

Applying a more complex sequential transformation

• The sequential thinning and thickening operation require the use of a predefined Golay element.
• Click 'User defined/Golay structuring element' button in the usergrid area to toggle to the predefined element list.
• Choose an element (e.g. L, info on the uses of the different elements can be found by clicking on 'More Info').
• >From the Morph menu choose a sequential transformation (e.g. 'Seq Thin').
• Choose the number of iterations or click the tick box to allow the program to continue until convergence occurs.
• Click apply. If the 'Anim on' option is choosen under the Options menu then the rightmost image will be updated with every iteration.

Locally applying a transformation

• Choose the required transformation from the checkboxes below the interactive view (erode, dilate, open or close).
• Move the mouse pointer over the interactive view and the zoom view will appear. The red box on the zoom view represents the structuring element and clicking once will apply it.

 

Notes

• The program will automatically scale in input image so images of any size can be used.
• It will automatically detect if an image is not binary and not load it if it is not.
• The sequential transformations are fairly computationally expensive so some of them may take quite a long time (depending on the size of the mask, etc).