Application of computerised correction method for optical distortion of two-dimensional facial image in superimposition between three-dimensional and two-dimensional facial images

Abstract The applicability of computerised correction of optical distortion to two-dimensional (2D)/three-dimensional (3D) facial image superimposition was investigated. Two-dimensional (2D) facial images of 10 male volunteers were taken with a commercially available closed circuit device (CCD) camera (reference camera) at four areas of the lens field: the centre, top, upper right and right. Correction was made by computer by calculating differences vis-à-vis the co-ordinates of dots on a test chart. Discrepancies in facial outlines between the 3D and 2D images decreased following correction in all lens fields and were below the threshold for true positive. The correction method was also tested using an actual surveillance camera and video recorder installed in a bank. The method was found to be effective for the correction of facial images, especially those taken in the top and right lens fields. Since the total error (observed error) remaining after correction appeared close to the random error (real error), systematic error was thought to be minimised by correction. Therefore, the present method was thought to display high fidelity, and could be useful for supplementary examination of conventional superimposition.