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Model-based character extraction from complex backgrounds

This paper proposes a model-based character extraction method. We model a pixel belonging to a character as a double-edge, whose range is defined by the stroke width, and whose intensity is proportional to the local contrast. By extracting such double-edge feature at a predefined stroke width, sharply changing as well as slowly varying backgrounds can be eliminated. A set of morphological operators is designed to extract the double-edge feature at each pixel of the raw image, and the characters are extracted by thresholding these features. A goal directed evaluation of extraction of the courtesy amount from bank cheques reveals the advantages of the proposed method over other existing methods. Visual inspection of legal amount extraction shows further promise in extracting characters from complex backgrounds.