IMAGE PROCESSING

An image segmentation method has a training phase and a segmentation phase. In the training phase, a frame of pixellated data from a camera is processed using information on camera characteristics to render it camera independent. The camera independent data are processed using a chosen value of illuminant spectral characteristics to derive reflectivity data of the items in the image. Pixels of high reflectivity are established. Then, using data from the high reflectivity pixels, the actual illuminant spectral characteristics are established. The illuminant data are then processed to determine information on the illumination of the scene represented by the frame of pixellated data to derive reflectivity data of the scene. The segmentation phase comprises operating on a subsequent frame of pixellated data to render it camera independent and using the determined illumination information to process the camera independent data to determine reflectivity data of the scene to derive a foreground mask.