Redefining Binarization and the Visual Archetype

TL;DR

This paper redefines binarization by introducing the concept of the visual archetype, framing it as restoring the ideal form of documents, which broadens its scope and emphasizes foreground ground-truth.

Contribution

It proposes a new conceptual framework for binarization centered on the visual archetype, shifting focus towards the restoration of the foreground in document images.

Findings

Broadens binarization scope through visual archetype concept

Highlights importance of foreground in ground-truth

Provides a new theoretical perspective on binarization

Abstract

Although binarization is considered passe, it still remains a highly popular research topic. In this paper we propose a rethinking of what binarization is. We introduce the notion of the visual archetype as the ideal form of any one document. Binarization can be defined as the restoration of the visual archetype for a class of images. This definition broadens the scope of what binarization means but also suggests ground-truth should focus on the foreground.