Shape from shading using graph cuts

This paper describes a new semi-global method for SFS (Shape-from-Shading) using graph cuts. The new algorithm combines the local method proposed by Lee and Rosenfeld [I] and the global inethod using energy minimization technique. By employing a new global energy minimization formulatioK the convedconcave ambiguity problcm of the Lee and Rosenfeld method can be resolved efficiently. A new combinatorial optimization technique. graph cuts method is used for the minimization of Uie proposed energy functional. Experimental results on a variety of synthetic and real-world images show that the proposed algorithm re~onstructs the 3-D shape of objects very efficiently.