Query by Sketch for Trademark Image Retrieval

Despite over a decade of research into content-based image retrieval (CBIR), the task of finding a desired image in a large collection remains problematic. Even in application areas where there is a clear need for effective image retrieval, such as medical diagnosis and trademark registration, current technology fails to meet user needs. Much existing research has concentrated on retrieval techniques for natural images (typically photographs of natural scenes or objects), using various combinations of extracted colour, texture and layout feature [VT01]. Techniques for the retrieval of figurative images, a class of artificially-produced images which includes icons, trademarks, coats of arms, and clip-art images, have received less attention, even though there is evidence, e.g. [WLMGDN96], that these images require different techniques for effective retrieval.