Close-form solution and parameter selection for convex minimization-based edge-preserving smoothing

This work presents a new approach for the analysis of convex minimization-based edge-preserving image smoothing and the parameter selection therein. The global solution, that is, the response of a convex smoothing model to the ideal step edge, is derived in close-form. By analyzing the close-form solution, insights are drawn into how the optimal solution responds to edges in the data and how the parameter values affect resultant edges in the solution. Based on this, a scheme is proposed for selecting parameters to achieve desirable responses at edges. The theoretic results are substantiated by experiments.