A novel algorithm for image edge detection is presented. This algorithm combines the nonsubsampled contourlet transform and the mathematical morphology. First, the source image is decomposed by the nonsubsampled contourlet transform into multi-scale and multi-directional subbands. Then the edges in the high-frequency and low-frequency sub-bands are respectively extracted by the dualthreshold modulus maxima method and the mathematical morphology operator. Finally, the edges from the high- frequency and low-frequency sub-bands are integrated to the edges of the source image, which are refined, and isolated points are excluded to achieve the edges of the source image. The simulation results show that the proposed algorithm can effectively suppress noise, eliminate pseudo-edges and overcome the adverse effects caused by uneven illumination to a certain extent. Compared with the traditional methods such as LoG, Sobel, and Carmy operators and the modulus maxima algorithm, the proposed method can maintain sufficient positioning accuracy and edge details, and it can also make an improvement in the completeness, smoothness and clearness of the outline.
