How does the Zhang Suen Thinning Algorithm achieve thinning of an image?

Question

I have the Zhang Suen algorithm properly implemented in MATLAB and its producing a fine output but I am lacking understanding of how does it achieve thinning?

I am attaching here the links that maybe of help in understanding my problem.

A document discussing the implementation of various image thinning techniques

• http://www.iasj.net/iasj?func=fulltext&aId=34184

Research paper of Zhang + Suen:

• http://www-prima.inrialpes.fr/perso/Tran/Draft/gateway.cfm.pdf

Answer 1

An explanation about various 'thinning' methods in automatic image procession as used by ImageMagick can be found here:

• Thinning (Subtracting Pixels from a Shape)

This section of the ImageMagick documentation provides quite a few examples. To really understand it though, you should start reading up about 'Morphology' and 'Kernels' in ImageMagick (at the top of the same page):

• Morphology Introduction

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_{Note, that I have not heard about the 'Zhang Suen' thinning algorithm before. ImageMagick also does not support it.}