How do I install OpenCV to study images?

 Previously, we have seen how to install OpenCV using PIP.

Now we will see how to work with OpenCV.

In PyCharm, the default python file name is main.py. I already have a main.py and I will create a new python file as shown in the picture. 

When you create a new python file you can give a name to it, main-OpenCV.py herein.

main_opencv.py gets added to the project. The code window on the right is empty and starts at line 1.

Now let us look at the same image as in the previous using PIL.

Run the following code in main-OpenCV as shown.

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import cv2

# Load the image from file

image = cv2.imread('Images/TheKiss.jpg')

# Display the image in a window

cv2.imshow('Loaded Image', image)

# Wait for a key press and close the window

cv2.waitKey(0)

cv2.destroyAllWindows()

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It takes a short while to generate the image as shown.

You would have noticed the difference between displaying using PIL and OpenCV. The method imshow() is a part of the matplotlib library but has also become a part of the OpenCV.  The imshow() creates a window managed by OpenCV in the context of the OpenCV applications. However the PIL program uses the default viewer settings that can change depending on the settings and the OS.

The images displayed by the two methods can be different as well.