METHOD FOR FILTERING A FINGERPRINT IMAGE

The present invention relates to the digital processing of images, and, more particularly, to the digital filtering of fingerprint images. The present invention can be used in criminalistics for fingerprint identification. The object of the present invention is to develop a method for filtering a fingerprint image, that provides effective image processing in the areas where the curvature of fingerprint lines is high. This object is achieved by providing a method for filtering a fingerprint image, the method including the step of sequentially processing areas of the image by a directional filter having at least one central ridge and adapted to local properties of respective areas of the image, the local properties including distance between the ridges, orientation of the fingerprint line, and curvature of the same. Further steps include adapting the filter to the local curvature by curving at least one central ridge of the filter in the plane of spatial coordinates in such a way its curvature is brought into proximity with the curvature of the fingerprint line.