DIPlib Documentation - ©1995-2013 Quantitative Imaging Group, Delft University of Technology.

# DirectedPathOpening

Morphological filter

## SYNOPSIS

`#include "dip_morphology.h"`

dip_Error DirectedPathOpening ( grey, mask, out, param, closing, constrained )

## DATA TYPES

binary, integer, float

## FUNCTION

Theoretically, the path opening can be written as the supremum of all the openings with each of the possible linear structuring elements of composed of a set number of pixels in the general orientation of `param`. The `param` parameter is interpreted as follows: `length` is set to `max(param)`. `direction` is set to `round(param/length)`. `direction` now contains only values 0, -1 or 1. A 90 degree cone is defined around the given `direction`, and this cone gives the neighbourhood connectivity. The structuring element is formed by `length` pixels connected according to this neighbourhood connectivity. For example, in 2D, if `param` is `[10,0]`, the structuring element will be formed by 10 pixels connected either diagonally or horizontally. It will extend across exactly 10 horizontal pixels, but can vary in shape to adapt to local image content.

If `closing` is `DIP_TRUE`, the path closing will be computed instead of the opening.

If `constrained` is `DIP_TRUE`, the algorithm is modified as follows: Only one consecutive step is allowed in a direction other than the exact direction specified. For example, following the `[10,0]` example above, a diagonal step must be followed by at least one horizontal step. This avoids zig-zag lines, especially if the main direction is diagonal. It also reduces the maximal angle that a straight line can deviate from the chosen direction. The unconstrained algorithm will keep lines rotated by up to 45 degrees; the constrained algorithm limits this to 22.5 degrees.

The algorithm uses a boundary condition such that any line connected to the border is considered infinite in length. To constrain the lines to the image domain, set a two pixel border around the image to the minimum value, e.g. 0 (for the opening), or the maximum value, e.g. 255 (for the closing).

## ARGUMENTS

Data type | Name | Description
`dip_Image` | `grey` | Grey-value input image
`dip_Image` | `mask` | Mask image for ROI processing
`dip_Image` | `out` | Output image
`dip_FloatArray` | `param` | Size of structuring element
`dip_Boolean` | `closing` | `DIP_FALSE` for path opening, `DIP_TRUE` for path closing
`dip_Boolean` | `constrained` | `DIP_TRUE` for constrained paths, `DIP_FALSE` for the original path opening algorithm

## LITERATURE

H. Talbot and B. Appleton, Efficient complete and incomplete path openings and closings, Image and Vision Computing 25:416-425, 2007.

C.L. Luengo Hendriks, Constrained and dimensionality-independent path openings, IEEE Transactions on Image Processing 19(6):1587-1595, 2010.

## SEE ALSO

`Opening`, `Closing`, `PathOpening`, `AreaOpening`