This is a good question. In addition to the very help answer given by @Bhagwan Das, there is a bit more to add.
A good introduction to the use of Freeman chain code in Matlab for shape extraction as well as links to sources of code is given in
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Leif_Ronningen/publication/224143396_Character_recognition_of_the_Batak_Toba_alphabet_using_signatures_and_simplified_chain_code/links/00b7d52b428e979427000000.pdf?origin=publication_detail
Conference Paper Character recognition of the Batak Toba alphabet using signa...
Hi James,
If you don't mind, I would like to discuss the Freeman chain code some more. It is used for shape description (not extraction as you mistakenly wrote), but I never understood why it was -and apparently still is- so popular.
OK, one can describe a shape (a thin contour of a shape) with it, but the encoding mechanism has a pronounced discontinuity (between 1 and 8).
In my opinion, a much better way to describe the same thin contour would be: (Imagine yourself driving along the contour)
Straight ahead is 0
45 to the left is -1
90 degrees to the left is -2
(135 degrees to the left is -3)
45 degrees to the right is +1
90 degrees to the right is +2
(135 degrees to the right is +3)
This way of encoding has two major advantages over Freeman. Less bits needed for the encoding (which was important at the time that Freeman proposed his encoding). More importantly, this way of encoding is suitable for frequency analysis; it can easily be seen whether a shape is smooth or jagged.
What do you think Peter?
@Lambert Zijp: OK, one can describe a shape (a thin contour of a shape) with it, but the encoding mechanism has a pronounced discontinuity (between 1 and 8).
Good point! Also, it's nice to be exchanging thoughts with you again after quite a long time.
Incidentally, I found the following paper that may interest you:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/272058811_Shape_Recognition_Based_on_Freeman_Chain_Code
More to the point, angle discontinuities while using the chain code are considered in
http://link.springer.com.uml.idm.oclc.org/article/10.1007/s10044-016-0560-0
Just in case this article is not accessible to you, see the attached copy. Also, I will look into trying out your proposed approach, which is promising.
Article Shape Recognition Based on Freeman Chain Code
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