# Dilation

Dilate binary or intensity image by finding local maxima

• Library:
• Computer Vision Toolbox / Morphological Operations

## Description

The Dilation block performs morphological dilation on an intensity or binary image and outputs the dilated image.

To define the structuring element that the block applies to the image, use the Neighborhood or structuring element parameter.

This block uses two-dimensional flat structuring elements only.

## Ports

### Input

expand all

Specify an input image as a matrix of intensity values. This port is unnamed unless you set the Neighborhood or structuring element source parameter to Input port.

Data Types: single | double | int8 | int16 | int32 | uint8 | uint16 | uint32 | Boolean | fixed point

Specify neighborhood values representing a structuring element as a vector or matrix of 1s and 0s or by using the strel function.

#### Dependencies

To enable this port, set the Neighborhood or structuring element source parameter to Input port.

Data Types: Boolean

### Output

expand all

The block returns the dilated image as a matrix of intensity values. The size and data type of the output image are the same as those of the input image.

Data Types: single | double | int8 | int16 | int32 | uint8 | uint16 | uint32 | Boolean | fixed point

## Parameters

expand all

Specify the source of the neighborhood or structuring element as one of these options:

• Specify via dialog — Use the Neighborhood or structuring element parameter to specify a neighborhood or structuring element.

• Input port — Use the Nhood input port to specify neighborhood values representing a structuring element.

Specify a neighborhood or structuring element as a vector or matrix of 1s and 0s, a strel object, or an array of strel objects. When you specify an array of strel objects, the block applies each object to the entire image sequentially.

If the structuring element is decomposable into smaller elements, the block uses a more efficient algorithm that can execute more quickly.

#### Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set the Neighborhood or structuring element source parameter, to Specify via dialog.

## Block Characteristics

 Data Types Boolean | double | fixed point | integer | single Multidimensional Signals no Variable-Size Signals yes

expand all

## References

[1] Soille, Pierre. Morphological Image Analysis. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 2004. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-05088-0.

[2] Gonzalez, Rafael C., Richard E. Woods, and Steven L. Eddins. Digital Image Processing Using MATLAB. Third edition. Knoxville: Gatesmark Publishing, 2020.

## Version History

Introduced before R2006a