Fast Hue-division-based Selective Color Transfer

This paper introduces a new concept, selective color transfer (SCT), to allow for color experimentation and visualization on a selected object within an image, without affecting any other image content or color. To implement this new concept, this paper proposes a new fast SCT-I algorithm for image input data and a new SCT-V algorithm for video input data. For the SCT-I algorithm, its fundamental novelties include: 1) utilizing a new hue-division-based color region segmentation (HCR) based on defining a new nonlinear and circular property of the hue spectrum; 2) developing two new color artifact suppression strategies, including color region integration and circular statistical calculation; and 3) applying a new truncated color transfer equation to solve the problem of mismatches in the data range. The SCT-V algorithm utilizes: 1) object tracking to locate the target of interest (TOI) within each video frame; 2) the SCT-I algorithm to update the original color within TOIs; and 3) an expected color interpolation process to support different special color animation effects. The experimental results demonstrate: 1) there are no residual color artifacts introduced; 2) the approaches have tremendous flexibility for modifying an object’s color; and 3) these algorithms have a low computational cost. Furthermore, these algorithms require minimal manual intervention for the easy use of ordinary users. The performance analysis demonstrates the potential of these two methods for various applications, including creating special effects in videos, making histology images much clearer for medical inspection, and enabling low-cost experimentation of manufacturing the design of a product.