Converting Numpy Array to OpenCV Array

Question:

I’m trying to convert a 2D Numpy array, representing a black-and-white image, into a 3-channel OpenCV array (i.e. an RGB image).

Based on code samples and the docs I’m attempting to do this via Python like:

import numpy as np, cv
vis = np.zeros((384, 836), np.uint32)
h,w = vis.shape
vis2 = cv.CreateMat(h, w, cv.CV_32FC3)
cv.CvtColor(vis, vis2, cv.CV_GRAY2BGR)

However, the call to CvtColor() is throwing the following cpp-level Exception:

OpenCV Error: Image step is wrong () in cvSetData, file /build/buildd/opencv-2.1.0/src/cxcore/cxarray.cpp, line 902
terminate called after throwing an instance of 'cv::Exception'
  what():  /build/buildd/opencv-2.1.0/src/cxcore/cxarray.cpp:902: error: (-13)  in function cvSetData

Aborted

What am I doing wrong?

Asked By: Cerin

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Answers:

Your code can be fixed as follows:

import numpy as np, cv
vis = np.zeros((384, 836), np.float32)
h,w = vis.shape
vis2 = cv.CreateMat(h, w, cv.CV_32FC3)
vis0 = cv.fromarray(vis)
cv.CvtColor(vis0, vis2, cv.CV_GRAY2BGR)

Short explanation:

  1. np.uint32 data type is not supported by OpenCV (it supports uint8, int8, uint16, int16, int32, float32, float64)
  2. cv.CvtColor can’t handle numpy arrays so both arguments has to be converted to OpenCV type. cv.fromarray do this conversion.
  3. Both arguments of cv.CvtColor must have the same depth. So I’ve changed source type to 32bit float to match the ddestination.

Also I recommend you use newer version of OpenCV python API because it uses numpy arrays as primary data type:

import numpy as np, cv2
vis = np.zeros((384, 836), np.float32)
vis2 = cv2.cvtColor(vis, cv2.COLOR_GRAY2BGR)
Answered By: Andrey Kamaev

This is what worked for me…

import cv2
import numpy as np

#Created an image (really an ndarray) with three channels 
new_image = np.ndarray((3, num_rows, num_cols), dtype=int)

#Did manipulations for my project where my array values went way over 255
#Eventually returned numbers to between 0 and 255

#Converted the datatype to np.uint8
new_image = new_image.astype(np.uint8)

#Separated the channels in my new image
new_image_red, new_image_green, new_image_blue = new_image

#Stacked the channels
new_rgb = np.dstack([new_image_red, new_image_green, new_image_blue])

#Displayed the image
cv2.imshow("WindowNameHere", new_rgbrgb)
cv2.waitKey(0)
Answered By: Mel

The simplest solution would be to use Pillow lib:

from PIL import Image

image = Image.fromarray(<your_numpy_array>.astype(np.uint8))

And you can use it as an image.

Answered By: makewithplus