Image Morphing Using Deformation Techniques

This paper presents a new image morphing method using a two-dimensional deformation technique which provides an intuitive model for a warp. The deformation technique derives a C1-continuous and one-to-one warp from a set of point pairs overlaid on two images. The resulting inbetween image precisely reflects the correspondence of features specified by an animator. We also control the transition behavior in a metamorphosis sequence by taking another deformable surface model, which is simpler and thus more efficient than the deformation technique for a warp. The proposed method separates transition control from feature interpolation and is easier to use than the previous techniques. The multigrid relaxation method is employed to solve a linear system in deriving a warp or transition rates. This method makes our image morphing technique fast enough for an interactive environment.