OpenCV (Open Source Computer Vision Library) is an open-source computer vision and machine learning software library. OpenCV-Python is a Python wrapper for the original OpenCV C++ library. Let’s see how it install OpenCV in python.
Introduction
OpenCV enables users to perform image and video processing tasks with ease. In this blog post, we will provide a step-by-step guide on installing OpenCV-Python in various operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux. We will also cover some common issues that users may encounter during the installation process.
1. Pre-requisites
Before installing OpenCV-Python, ensure that your system meets the following requirements:
- Python 3.6 or later installed (You can download Python from https://www.python.org/downloads/)
- pip (Python Package Installer) installed with your Python distribution
2. Install opencv python
The easiest way to install OpenCV-Python is by using pip. The commands are the same for all operating systems. Open a terminal or command prompt and enter the following command:
pip install opencv-python
To install the package with additional contrib modules (which provide extended functionality), use:
pip install opencv-contrib-python
3. Verifying the Installation:
Once the installation is complete, you can verify it by running a simple Python script. Open your Python IDE or create a new Python file and enter the following code:
import cv2
print("OpenCV-Python Version:", cv2.__version__)
If the installation was successful, running the script will display the OpenCV-Python version.
4. Installation on Various Operating Systems
While the pip command works across different platforms, there might be some OS-specific considerations when installing OpenCV-Python
a) Windows:
On Windows, the process is straightforward. Just follow the steps mentioned above in 2. Installing OpenCV-Python to install OpenCV-Python using pip.
b) macOS:
On macOS, you may need to install additional libraries before installing OpenCV-Python. Run the following command to install Homebrew, a package manager for macOS:
/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"
After installing Homebrew, install the required libraries using the following command:
brew install pkg-config libffi glib
Now, proceed with the pip installation as described in 2. Installing OpenCV-Python.
c) Linux:
On Linux, you may need to install some additional libraries before installing OpenCV-Python. For Ubuntu/Debian-based systems, run the following command:
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install -y libsm6 libxext6 libxrender-dev
For CentOS/Fedora-based systems, use the following command:
sudo yum install libXext libSM libXrender
After installing the required libraries, proceed with the pip installation as described in 2. Installing OpenCV-Python.
5. Common Issues and Solutions
While installing OpenCV-Python, you may encounter some common issues. Here are a few possible solutions:
- If pip fails to install the package, try upgrading pip using the command pip install –upgrade pip and then retry the installation.
- If you receive an error related to missing libraries or headers, ensure that you have installed all the required dependencies for your operating system as mentioned in 4. Installation on Various Operating Systems.
- If you encounter any issues related to compatibility or Python version, make sure you have Python 3.6 or later installed on your system.
Conclusion
In this blog post, we covered the installation process of OpenCV-Python on various operating systems and provided code examples for verifying
