Image preprocessing using quick color averaging approach for color machine vision (CMV) systems

Image preprocessing is a preceding technique that an image undergoes before being subject to a main process. This is necessary since most unprocessed images are hard and sometimes impractical to manipulate. A color machine vision (CMV) system is an application where colors of a certain image is used with vision techniques. Some CMV applications in the industry include inspection, sorting, indication, detection, and measuring. However, CMV has limitations like proper lighting, camera calibration, etc. Due to its limitations, preprocessing techniques are essential to its success. With that, this paper proposed the application of quick color averaging as an image preprocessing technique for CMV applications. Color averaging is the process of changing the color values of the pixels of an image contour to the mean color value of all the pixels in the contour. From the results, this study concluded that color averaging using vision techniques is viable for image preprocessing in machine vision. Recommendations for future studies that may improve the color averaging process were also suggested.