# Dilation

Dilate binary or intensity image by finding local maxima

Libraries:
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

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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 `1`s and `0`s 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

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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

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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 `1`s and `0`s, 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`

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## 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