OpenCV 3.x with Python By Example

Abstract

Computer vision is found everywhere in modern technology. OpenCV for Python enables us to run computer vision algorithms in real time. With the advent of powerful machines, we are getting more processing power to work with. Using this technology, we can seamlessly integrate our computer vision applications into the cloud. Web developers can develop complex applications without having to reinvent the wheel. This book is a practical tutorial that covers various examples at different levels, teaching you about the different functions of OpenCV and their actual implementations. Who this book is for This book is intended for Python developers who are new to OpenCV and want to develop computer vision applications with OpenCV and Python. This book is also useful for generic software developers who want to deploy computer vision applications on the cloud. It would be helpful to have some familiarity with basic mathematical concepts such as vectors and matrices. What this book covers Chapter 1, Applying Geometric Transformations to Images, explains how to apply geometric transformations to images. In this chapter, we will discuss affine and projective transformations and see how we can use them to apply cool geometric effects to photos. The chapter will begin with the procedure of installing OpenCV-Python on multiple platforms, such as Mac OS X, Linux, and Windows. You will also learn how to manipulate an image in various ways, such as resizing and changing color spaces. Chapter 2, Detecting Edges and Applying Image Filters, shows how to use fundamental image processing operators and how we can use them to build bigger projects. We will discuss why we need edge detection and how it can be used in various different ways in computer vision applications. We will discuss image filtering and how we can use it to apply various visual effects to photos. Chapter 3, Cartoonizing an Image, shows how to cartoonize a given image using image filters and other transformations. We will see how to use the webcam to capture a live video stream. We will discuss how to build a real-time application, where we extract information from each frame in the stream and display the result.