Non-Photorealistic Computer Graphics Library

Inking Old Black-and-White Cartoons

Author(s): Daniel Sýkora.
Master Thesis: Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Prague, Czech Republic, January, 2003.
[BibTeX]

Abstract:
This diploma thesis discuss the problem of applying color to the old black and white cartoons produced by original step by step technology, where each animation phase was exposed on the one frame of film negative. Thanks to possibility, which allows us to convert the original analogue material to the sequence of digital images using resolution suitable for TV broadcasting, we are able to solve our problem by methods of digital image processing. We introduce several algorithms based on unsupervised image segmentation and synthesis techniques, which exploit classical properties of cartoons produced by paper or foil technology, where foreground parts are represented by homogeneous surfaces with constant grey-scale intensity enclosed by bold contours. These algorithms together with couple of prediction techniques provide us to speed up whole inking process. An important part of this thesis is also description of application, where purposed algorithms are implemented. This implementation take into account also human driven interaction which guarantee the final image quality. Described application was practically used as a part of project focussed on restoration of the old black and white cartoon: "O loupeznıku Rumcajsovi" (directed by well known czech artist Radek Pilaˇr). During this project we measured the overall application efficiency which will be also discussed in this thesis.