This chapter covers both image derivatives and edge detection. So far, we are done with the first half of the chapter, that is, image derivatives. The remainder of the chapter will be based on edge detection algorithms. Before we embark on an explanation of the various edge detection algorithms out there and the nuances of implementing them using OpenCV/C++, let's take a moment to get a feeling for how these two topics are related. This would not only help you appreciate why these two topics have been put together in the same chapter, but will also make the transition from derivatives to edge detection seamless.
For a moment, let's forget about computer vision or OpenCV and think as a layman. Now if I ask you, what do you understand by edges in images, what would your answer be? Well, to put it simply, we refer to the boundaries of objects as edges. Most of the natural images that one might expect to come across would consist of a finite number of objects (some of...
