Our Technologies

• Image Identification: PixID and TinEye
• Multicolour Search: Piximilar
• Visual Similarity Search: Piximilar
• Duplicate Image Detection
• Image Stacking/Clustering
• Image Classification

Image Identification: PixID and TinEye

Identify where and how an image appears in large image collections (e.g. the internet) even if it has been heavily altered.

We process through image collections, generating digital fingerprints for each image, which are later compared against the digital fingerprint of the query image. Sensitivity can be tuned so that even drastic transformations are identified: resizing, rotation, skew, close-cropping, flip, colour, match area.

Licensing:

Our image identification algorithms power the following Idée products and services:

• PixID: which is Idée’s commercial service to allow editorial and entertainment photo agencies to track where their images appear in both print publications and the internet. This is a subscription based service
• TinEye Image Search Engine: Given an image to search for, TinEye tells you where and how that image appears all over the web—even if it has been modified. TinEye is available for licensing as a custom API
• TinEye Mobile: allows you to search for products using your mobile phone's camera. Just take a photograph to start your search and view pricing and reviews for products. TinEye Mobile is also available for licensing as a customs API or a subscription based service.

Multicolour Search: Piximilar

Search for images using multiple colours instead of the traditional unicolour search. Our multicolour search approach is innovative and radical compared to existing approaches.

Our multicolour search algorithms utilize a colour space that is based on the human perception of colour and return much more natural results then simple colour histogram approaches. They also support the ability to specify a varied distribution of colours in the query.

Visual Similarity Search: Piximilar

Use an image to retrieve visually similar images from large image collections. Often used in combination with keyword search technologies.

Piximilar uses sophisticated algorithms to analyze hundreds of image attributes such as colour, shape, texture, luminosity, complexity, objects and regions.

These attributes form a unique visual signature and are arranged into a visual index. The compact image signature is calculated quickly, stored efficiently and used to facilitate searches for similar images using an optimized and accurate comparison engine.

Results are ordered according to degree of similarity to the query image. In general, the most outstanding features of any given image play the largest role in this comparison.

Piximilar can also speed the keywording of a collections newly added images. This is done by having the user review visually similar, previously tagged images and applying the relevant keywords to the new images.

Duplicate Image Detection

Identify duplicate images in large image collections even when images have been resized or watermarked.

Our deduplication technology allows content owners to locate the original high resolution image using a low resolution copy. Duplicate images are also easily removed from within an image collection and newly added images can be compared against the collection to prevent new duplicates from being added.

Image Stacking/Clustering

Group images with similar or overlapping content based only on their appearance. The algorithm sensitivity can be adjusted to a varying quantity of stacks.

Clustering and grouping algorithms can be used by digital photo organizers like Photoshop Elements, iPhoto and Picasa. Users of digital asset management applications also benefit greatly when our stacking algorithm is implemented.

Licensing:

• Idée's image stacking/clustering technology is available for licensing as a custom API.

Image Classification

Identify and separate graphics from photographs.

Our image classification system helps content owners separate graphics from photographs in their image collections. This can be applied to submitted images in order to prevent an unwanted image type (e.g. graphic) from being added to a collection.

Licensing:

• Idée's image classification technology is available for licensing as a custom API.