Papers
Topics
Authors
Recent
Gemini 2.5 Flash
Gemini 2.5 Flash
167 tokens/sec
GPT-4o
7 tokens/sec
Gemini 2.5 Pro Pro
42 tokens/sec
o3 Pro
4 tokens/sec
GPT-4.1 Pro
38 tokens/sec
DeepSeek R1 via Azure Pro
28 tokens/sec
2000 character limit reached

Instance Segmentation by Deep Coloring (1807.10007v1)

Published 26 Jul 2018 in cs.CV

Abstract: We propose a new and, arguably, a very simple reduction of instance segmentation to semantic segmentation. This reduction allows to train feed-forward non-recurrent deep instance segmentation systems in an end-to-end fashion using architectures that have been proposed for semantic segmentation. Our approach proceeds by introducing a fixed number of labels (colors) and then dynamically assigning object instances to those labels during training (coloring). A standard semantic segmentation objective is then used to train a network that can color previously unseen images. At test time, individual object instances can be recovered from the output of the trained convolutional network using simple connected component analysis. In the experimental validation, the coloring approach is shown to be capable of solving diverse instance segmentation tasks arising in autonomous driving (the Cityscapes benchmark), plant phenotyping (the CVPPP leaf segmentation challenge), and high-throughput microscopy image analysis. The source code is publicly available: https://github.com/kulikovv/DeepColoring.

Citations (28)

Summary

  • The paper introduces a novel approach that reduces instance segmentation to semantic segmentation using deep coloring.
  • It simplifies network architecture and minimizes computational overhead by leveraging established semantic segmentation models.
  • Evaluations on diverse datasets demonstrate competitive performance, highlighting practical efficiency and scalability in real-world applications.

Instance Segmentation by Deep Coloring

The paper "Instance Segmentation by Deep Coloring" by Kulikov, Yurchenko, and Lempitsky presents a straightforward reduction of the instance segmentation task to semantic segmentation. This pivotal paper proposes a novel methodology that streamlines the current approaches in instance segmentation by leveraging existing semantic segmentation architectures. This transformation enables a more efficient, feed-forward, and non-recurrent mechanism for instance segmentation, thereby facilitating end-to-end training using established neural network architectures commonly applied in semantic segmentation.

In exploring the technical aspects, the paper discusses how this reduction not only simplifies the network architecture but also minimizes computational overhead compared to traditional instance segmentation pipelines, which often require complex post-processing stages. The authors provide evidence of the efficacy of their approach by evaluating the proposed method across three diverse datasets, underscoring its competitive performance metrics. These evaluations indicate the robustness of the proposed method in handling varied data distributions, thereby affirming its practical applicability in real-world scenarios.

Strong numerical results demonstrate the competitiveness of this approach compared to existing methods in the domain of instance segmentation. The authors suggest that the Deep Coloring method can achieve comparable performance to current state-of-the-art methods without the necessity for uniquely tailored architectures for each specific task of instance segmentation.

One of the notable claims made in this paper is the potential for the Deep Coloring approach to simplify the deployment of instance segmentation models in applications with constrained resources. By using semantic segmentation architectures, this approach implies that models can be more easily adapted to various hardware configurations without significant losses in efficiency or efficacy.

The implications of this research are twofold: practical and theoretical. From a practical standpoint, Deep Coloring could potentially reduce the barrier for deploying instance segmentation in applications, enhancing the accessibility of advanced vision capabilities in industrial setups. Theoretically, it prompts a reevaluation of how fundamentally distinct certain segmentation tasks are, suggesting that cross-pollination between semantic and instance segmentation methods may yield fruitful results.

Looking ahead, future work in AI could explore the integration of this method into broader frameworks, potentially enhancing hybrid models' capabilities. Further research may also delve into the extension of this reductionist approach to other segmentation-related tasks, such as panoptic segmentation, to identify whether similar efficiencies can be realized.

In conclusion, "Instance Segmentation by Deep Coloring" offers a significant contribution to the field of computer vision by facilitating a more unified approach to segmentation tasks. By demonstrating that instance segmentation can be tackled using simpler, more general-purpose architectures, this work paves the way for more versatile and scalable segmentation solutions in the field of artificial intelligence.

Github Logo Streamline Icon: https://streamlinehq.com