Creating a Flexible Mask

Using Flexible Masks

Objective

Following this tutorial, you will learn how to create a flexible mask from a source image, to restrict a future processing to an arbitrary-shaped do-care area.

Flexible masks can be created in any ways to build a bi-level image. Here, we will first load the source image (step 1), and then successively invert it, and threshold it (steps 2-3). The resulting image —the flexible mask— will be saved as a new image file (step 4). This new image file is a bi-level image. However, there are still black areas that need to be erased, before using the image as a flexible mask. You can use a third-party software, such as Paint, to clear the unwanted areas.

    

Source image (left) and flexible mask image (right)

Step 1: Load the source image

1.

From the main menu, click EasyImage, then Arithmetic & logic.

2.

Click the Open icon of the Source Image 0 area, and load the image file EasyImage\Key1.tif.

3.

Keep the default variable name for the new image object, and click OK.

Step 2: Invert the image

1.

Click the New icon of the Destination area.

2.

Keep the default settings for the new image object, and click OK.

3.

In the Operation drop-down list, select Invert, and click Execute

Step 3: Threshold the image

1.

From the main menu, click EasyImage, then Threshold.

2.

In the Source Image area, select the inverted image from the drop-down list.

3.

Click the New icon of the Destination area.

4.

Keep the default settings for the new image object, and click OK.

5.

Select the Absolute option, enter '46' as the threshold value, and click Execute.

Step 4: Save the flexible mask

1.

Right-click in the destination image, and select Save As....

2.

Type a file name for the new flexible mask file. Finally, click Save.

The new image now is a bi-level image. However, there are still black areas that need to be erased, before using the image as a flexible mask. You can use a third-party software, such as Paint, to clear the unwanted areas.