Thin Plate Spline

Thin-plate splines (TPS) are a powerful mathematical tool used to model smooth, non-linear transformations, primarily for warping images or shapes. Current research focuses on improving TPS applications in diverse fields, including image animation, geometric morphometrics, and scene text recognition, often by integrating TPS with other techniques like deep learning (e.g., UNets, attention mechanisms) or by developing coupled or part-based TPS models to address limitations in handling complex deformations or large motions. These advancements enhance the accuracy and flexibility of TPS-based methods, leading to improved results in various applications such as virtual try-on, image rectification, and animation. The impact spans both theoretical advancements in manifold learning and practical improvements in computer vision and graphics.