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Extract Handwriting and Print from Background

asked 2019-10-31 06:20:21 -0600

Billie gravatar image

updated 2019-10-31 08:52:36 -0600

Hi! I'm not the smartest person when it comes to image processing. I have a quite simple problem I need some help with. I have images with a red frame as background:

image description

The goal is to remove the red background and keep only the information in front, handwriting and printed information. I did come close by only using the red channel of the image and apply a threshold, but it comes with some noise and thin characters. So I need a smarter algorithm which gives me nice, strong characters for OCR without noise.

Best regards, Billie

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where is the image?

jsxyhelu gravatar imagejsxyhelu ( 2019-10-31 08:04:43 -0600 )edit

@Billie , please edit your question, and use the "upload image" button.

(your current link points to a website, not an image)

berak gravatar imageberak ( 2019-10-31 08:10:07 -0600 )edit

I do see the image, on Desktop and Smartphone (Android). It is a BMP, maybe this is a problem? I tried to upload it directly, but this didn't seem to work.

Billie gravatar imageBillie ( 2019-10-31 08:30:38 -0600 )edit

I merely get fifth rows.

supra56 gravatar imagesupra56 ( 2019-10-31 09:25:26 -0600 )edit

Try using color clustering with kmeans.

holger gravatar imageholger ( 2019-10-31 09:32:37 -0600 )edit

3 answers

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answered 2019-11-03 15:19:47 -0600

Billie gravatar image

I found a possible solution. First, I use only the red channel of the image, since print and handwriting do have less red:

image description

Now we're back add a Thresholding problem, where I found ADAPTIVE_THRESH_MEAN_C works great:

adaptiveThreshold(srcMat, dst, 255, Imgproc.ADAPTIVE_THRESH_MEAN_C, Imgproc.THRESH_BINARY, 21, 32)

Where a bigger blockSize value makes the characters bolder and a bigger c value reduces noise.

image description

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answered 2019-10-31 10:03:16 -0600

supra56 gravatar image

updated 2019-10-31 20:53:26 -0600

I solved problem. You don't needed threshold. Used cv2.InRange will suit your need.

#!/usr/bin/python37
#OpenCV 4.1.2-pre, THonny IDE
#Raspberry pi 3/4
#Date: 31 October, 2019

import cv2
import numpy as np

## Read
img = cv2.imread('handwriting.jpg')

## convert to hsv
hsv = cv2.cvtColor(img, cv2.COLOR_BGR2HSV)
mask = cv2.inRange(hsv, (70, 25, 25), (140, 255,255))

## slice the black
imask = mask>0
mask_black = np.zeros_like(img, np.uint8)
mask_black[imask] = img[imask]

## save 
cv2.imwrite('handwriting_1.jpg', mask_black)

Output: handwriting

I can't go further. You cannot get bold. The pay slip is little visible about 25%. Because of that it is black.

#!/usr/bin/python37
#OpenCV 4.1.2-pre, THonny IDE
#Raspberry pi 3/4
#Date: 31 October, 2019

import cv2
import numpy as np

## Read
img = cv2.imread('handwriting.jpg')

## convert to hsv
hsv = cv2.cvtColor(img, cv2.COLOR_BGR2HSV)
mask = cv2.inRange(hsv, (100, 15, 15), (190, 165,165))

## slice the black
imask = mask>0
mask_black = np.zeros_like(img, np.uint8)
mask_black[imask] = img[imask]

## save 
cv2.imwrite('handwriting_2.jpg', mask_black)

Output: handwriting

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Comments

1

Happy Halloween to every one!

supra56 gravatar imagesupra56 ( 2019-10-31 10:07:49 -0600 )edit

Btw, I'm using linux for raspberry pi 3/4. As for pc can change 70 and 140.

supra56 gravatar imagesupra56 ( 2019-10-31 10:10:21 -0600 )edit

Happy Halloween! But I'm sorry, the image is missing the printed parts, e.g. "30+" indicates the payment slip type and is therefore crucial for the OCR software. Also "Michael Tester" is not as bold as I expect it to be.

Billie gravatar imageBillie ( 2019-10-31 16:08:01 -0600 )edit
1

Welcome to the funny world of ocr - even a CNN does not automatically solve this.

holger gravatar imageholger ( 2019-10-31 20:45:40 -0600 )edit
-1

answered 2019-10-31 09:49:44 -0600

mvuori gravatar image

updated 2019-10-31 09:50:42 -0600

For you, red and green channels are just noise.Use blue channel only and treshold it.

Use split() to extract blue channel.

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Since I'm a new user I have to wait for two days, but I found a good solution. I used only the red channel of the image - the handwriting and printed stuff has less red, so it's a good starting point. And then I applied ADAPTIVE_THRESH_MEAN_C with blockSize 21 and c=32. A huge blockSize makes the text bolder and a big c value reduces noise. I will post the results in two days. I have to wait if the OCR software is pleased as well.

Billie gravatar imageBillie ( 2019-10-31 17:08:27 -0600 )edit

If its tesseract - well good luck :-)

holger gravatar imageholger ( 2019-10-31 20:46:58 -0600 )edit

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Asked: 2019-10-31 06:20:21 -0600

Seen: 3,145 times

Last updated: Nov 03 '19