Abstract: In order to solve over-segmentation in watershed algorithm, this paper proposed a combination of evolutionary programming and control tags in image preprocessing technique of the watershed image segmentation method. The method was based on evolutionary programming Birth-death process, restructured structural elements of the control tags, and reorganized the minimum values for each of the marked points, with it modified the control tags and then doing watershed transform, achieved the image region segmentation. The experimental results show that the method can effeclively solve the issue of over-segmentation in watershed algorithm, and still retaining a variety of important target area.And it can split the image characteristics and specific requirements by adjusting the segmentation process to get the satisfaction of selected parameters image segmentation results.

Key words: Image segmentation, Watershed algorithm, Evolutionary programming, Control tags