Remove underlines from image for ocr

[wineismine]

I need to remove lines from the following image without affecting the characters

Code: Select all

magick 21.gif -monochrome ( +clone -negate -statistic median 219x1 ) -compose lighten -composite q1.png

To make it more clearI dont want my image to have gaps which are shown in the image below, due to the line removal using the above code

[wineismine]

anyone?

[snibgo]

It can be done, but I can't see an easy way.

Each pixel that is removed may have had neighbours in three positions on the previous row (up, up-left and up-right), and neighbours in three positions on the following row.

For some combinations of neighbours, you want to replace the pixel that was removed. For others, you don't.

I don't have enough time to work out the details.

[wineismine]

It can be done, but I can't see an easy way.

Each pixel that is removed may have had neighbours in three positions on the previous row (up, up-left and up-right), and neighbours in three positions on the following row.

For some combinations of neighbours, you want to replace the pixel that was removed. For others, you don't.

I don't have enough time to work out the details.

could you give me some example codes to try?

[snibgo]

Another approach is Mending broken lines, but mask this so mending occurs only where horizontal lines have been removed.