Snake Algorithm - opencv active contour - not working so well

Question

I\'m actually working on a contour detection for head side. As pictures are taken in front of a white wall, I decided to run a snake (active contour model algorithm) on the

Answer 1

Active contours are just bad - period. It looks like max flow min cut could easily solve this image segmentation problem.

I know this was asked sometime ago but I'm that incensed with active contours in general. This page is one of the top hits on Google and I think many people will read this post in the hope that someone can do something useful with contour evolution via pdes.

The truth is that active contours require substantial human intervention and then it only works if you have unnatural edge strengths or very high contrast.

If your a PhD or postdoc with an interest - I beg you to find something else. I guarantee a hard viva with shocking results. Although there are seemingly good contour models out there, the source code is never made available - generalised gvf within a level set for example.

All (binary) segmentation problems can be decomposed into a directed graph - your future employer and examiner will thank me. I urge you not to waste time on active contours.