Color image segmentation based on multi-level Tsallis-Havrda-Charvát entropy and 2 histogram using PSO algorithms.

•A generalized 2D multi-level thresholding criterion function is proved rigorously by mathematical induction method.•A multi-level thresholding scheme for a RGB color image is proposed.•PSO algorithm is applied to seek to optimal threshold values in a very reasonable computational time.•The segmented image is compared with the human segmentation from BSDS300 to evaluate the experiment results quantitatively and objectively.