A point-based elastic registration method for registering a first image and a second image. A number of prominent feature are identified within the first image using a SIFT algorithm (S1). Then, a single control point is placed (S2) with the source image region at the most prominent SIFT feature and optimal parameter settings in respect thereof are determined (S3) for performing elastic deformation (S4) in respect of the first image so as to optimise a similarity measure. Additional control points are then added (S6) one-by-one at the next most prominent SIFT features, and the elastic deformation process repeated each time (S8) in respect of the new control point set, until a predetermined stopping criterion is met, e.g. the resultant improvement in the similarity measure no longer exceeds some predetermined threshold value. Thus, a high speed, high quality registration method is provided without having to specify the number of control points initially.
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