Patent ID: 8233675

Claim:
A method of processing images to improve biometric analysis in providing an identification document comprising: receiving a color digital image including a photographic representation of a human subject, wherein the digital image is intended to be placed on an identification document and a copy of the digital image is stored in a database; converting the color digital image into grayscale values; transforming at least one representation of the converted color image; analyzing the converted transformed color digital image to determine whether it is suitable for biometric assessment by identifying artifacts in the converted transformed color digital image; processing the color digital image to reduce artifacts therein when the act of analyzing determines that the presence of identified artifacts in the color digital image based on the converted transformed color digital image is not suitable for biometric assessment; wherein the act of processing comprises filtering using one of a low-pass filter and a band pass filter; searching the database to determine whether the processed color digital image statistically matches one or more images in the database based on at least one biometric assessment; and when no statistical match is found, providing the processed color digital image for storage in the database and the processed color digital image for inclusion on an identification document.