Vectorization in graphics recognition: to thin or not to thin

Vectorization, i.e. raster-to-vector conversion, is a central part of graphics recognition problems. We discuss the pros and the cons of basing one's vectorization process on skeletonization. While distance skeletons have proven to be robust and precise, they tend to distort the results at line extremities and junctions. In these cases, contour-matching approaches yield better results, but they have their own specific problems. A perspective is probably to combine the best of both methods.

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