Kirsch operator

The Kirsch operator or Kirsch compass kernel is a non-linear edge detector that finds the maximum edge strength in a few predetermined directions. It is named after the computer scientist Russell A. Kirsch.

The operator takes a single kernel mask and rotates it in 45 degree increments through all 8 compass directions: N, NW, W, SW, S, SE, E, and NE. The edge magnitude of the Kirsch operator is calculated as the maximum magnitude across all directions:

where z enumerates the compass direction kernels g:

The edge direction is defined by the mask that produces the maximum edge magnitude.

Original

Maximum gradient in the 8 directions

Image filtered with g⁽¹⁾

Image filtered with g⁽²⁾

Image filtered with g⁽³⁾

Image filtered with g⁽⁴⁾

Image filtered with g⁽⁵⁾

Image filtered with g⁽⁶⁾

Image filtered with g⁽⁷⁾

Image filtered with g⁽⁸⁾

...
Wikipedia