Image binarization method for markers tracking in extreme light conditions

Image binarization is one of the fundamental methods in image processing and it is mainly used as a preprocessing for other methods in image processing. We present an image binarization method with the primary purpose to find markers such as those used in mobile 3D scanning systems. Handling a mobile 3D scanning system often includes bad conditions such as light reflection and non-uniform illumination. As the basic part of the scanning process, the proposed binarization method successfully overcomes the above problems and does it successfully. Due to the trend of increasing image size and real-time image processing we were able to achieve the required small algorithmic complexity. The paper outlines a comparison with several other methods with a focus on objects with markers including the calibration system plane of the 3D scanning system. Although it is obvious that no binarization algorithm is best for all types of images, we also give the results of the proposed method applied to historical documents.