Image warping using radial basis functions

Image warping is the process of deforming an image through a transformation of its domain, which is typically a subset of <italic>R</italic> -super-2. Given the destination of a collection of points, the problem becomes one of finding a suitable smooth interpolation for the destinations of the remaining points of the domain. A common solution is to use the thin plate spline (TPS). We find that the TPS often introduces unintended distortions of image structures. In this paper, we will analyze interpolation by TPS, experiment with other radial basis functions, and suggest two alternative functions that provide better results.