Interactive image retrieval by color distribution content

An interactive system for content-based retrieval in a pictorial database using color distribution features is discussed. Images are internally represented and indexed by a set of histograms reflecting homogeneous chromatic properties of image structure and also including color-induced geometric features. User query images are interactively composed through a graphic environment featuring color sketching, image sampling and relevance feedback. Queries are first translated into the internal representation and then matched against the database index using a modified multi-feature histogram intersection operator. Examples of system operation are provided, and experimental results are reported indicating that using multiple distributions instead of global color histogramming allows for a system output in better accordance to human expectation.