GENERATING DEVELOPABLE DEPTH IMAGES USING RANK MINIMIZATION

An image processing system receives an input depth image with a surface that is not developable and generates an output depth image with a piecewise developable surface that approximates the input depth image. Height values for the output depth image are determined using an optimization problem that balances data fidelity and developability. Data fidelity is based on minimizing differences in height values of pixels in the output depth image and height values of pixels in the input depth image. Developability is based on rank minimization of Hessians computed for pixels in the output depth image. In some configurations, the optimization problem is formulated as a semi-definite programming problem and solved using a tailor-made alternating direction method of multipliers algorithm.