Python OpenCV convert image to byte string?

Question

I\'m working with PyOpenCV. How to convert cv2 image (numpy) to binary string for writing to MySQL db without a temporary file and imwrite?

I googled it

Answer 1

My code to use opencv with python cgi :

    im_data = form['image'].file.read()
    im = cv2.imdecode( np.asarray(bytearray(im_data), dtype=np.uint8), 1 )
    ret, im_thresh = cv2.threshold( im, 128, 255, cv2.THRESH_BINARY )
    self.send_response(200)
    self.send_header("Content-type", "image/jpg")
    self.end_headers()      
    ret, buf = cv2.imencode( '.jpg', im_thresh )
    self.wfile.write( np.array(buf).tostring() )

Answer 2

Here is an example:

def image_to_bts(frame):
    '''
    :param frame: WxHx3 ndarray
    '''
    _, bts = cv2.imencode('.webp', frame)
    bts = bts.tostring()
    return bts

def bts_to_img(bts):
    '''
    :param bts: results from image_to_bts
    '''
    buff = np.fromstring(bts, np.uint8)
    buff = buff.reshape(1, -1)
    img = cv2.imdecode(buff, cv2.IMREAD_COLOR)
    return img

Answer 3

im = cv2.imread('/tmp/sourcepic.jpeg')
res, im_png = cv2.imencode('.png', im)
with open('/tmp/pic.png', 'wb') as f:
    f.write(im_png.tobytes())

Answer 4

capture.read() returns a tuple, (err,img).

try splitting it up:

_,img = capture.read()
self.wfile.write(cv2.imencode('png', img))

Answer 5

It works in 2020 with numpy==1.19.4 and opencv==4.4.0:

import cv2

cam = cv2.VideoCapture(0)

# get image from web camera
ret, frame = cam.read()

# convert to jpeg and save in variable
image_bytes = cv2.imencode('.jpg', frame)[1].tobytes()

Answer 6

If you have an image img (which is a numpy array) you can convert it into string using:

>>> img_str = cv2.imencode('.jpg', img)[1].tostring()
>>> type(img_str)
 'str'

Now you can easily store the image inside your database, and then recover it by using:

>>> nparr = np.fromstring(STRING_FROM_DATABASE, np.uint8)
>>> img = cv2.imdecode(nparr, cv2.CV_LOAD_IMAGE_COLOR)

where you need to replace STRING_FROM_DATABASE with the variable that contains the result of your query to the database containing the image.