Python 3 Image Processing: Learn Image Processing with Python 3, NumPy, Matplotlib, and Scikit-image

Chapter 1

Concepts in Image Processing

I hope that you have read the preface and the table of contents thoroughly. If not, I recommend you to read them so that you will have an idea of the things that you can expect in this chapter and in the entire book. This being the first chapter of the book, is mostly an informative chapter and we will be learning a lot of important concepts for the topics we will see in this book. The programming hands on and other things will be there in the subsequent chapters. So, let us start the exciting journey of image processing by learning few important concepts.

1.1 Signal and Signal Processing

A fluctuating quantity that conveys information is known as a Signal. This is the scientific definition of signal. In our day to day life, we come across various types of signals like human gestures and TV/radio signals. All these signals convey some type of information to the recipients. Essentially, signals represent information.

Signal Processing is a scientific discipline that includes analysis of signals and extracting useful information from signals. Signal processing is a sub-discipline of Mathematics, Information Systems, and Electrical Engineering. The following Venn diagram shows us the relationship between all the disciplines mentioned above. (figure 1.1)

The system or the entity that carries out the task of processing signals is a Signal Processing System. The most prominent example of a signal processing system is a radio set that converts radio signals into audible signals. I prefer to classify the signal processing systems into naturally occurring signal processing systems (for example eyes) and man-made signal processing systems (like TV or radio). A man-made signal processing system that is made of electronic components is known as Electronic Signal Processing System. It is further classified into two types based on the nature of signals it processes, and electronic signal processing system can either be analog or digital.

Figure 1.1 Venn diagram for Signal Processing

We know that the analog signals are continuous and digital signals are discrete in nature. There are many more differences to the analog signals and digital signals. It is an interesting exercise to find out the difference between them.

1.2 Images and Image Processing

An image is a signal. The entity that processes images is an Image Processing System. It can be a natural system like eye and brain pair or man-made system. We can further classify man-made image processing systems into analog image processing systems and digital image processing systems.

A film camera or a motion picture camera is an analog image processing system where the picture is stored in the film which is an analog format. A film projector is also an example of an analog signal processing system. A digital camera and a computer are good examples of digital image processing systems. In the digital image processing, the images are captured and processed in the digital format. Digital image storage formats use digital bits (0s and 1s) to represent images. The digital images are stored in the digital storage mediums like optical storage (CD, DVD), semiconductor storage (SSD), or magnetic storage (tapes).

Image processing has applications in the following areas:

Image sharpening and restoration

Medical image processing

Remote sensing

Transmission and encoding of information

Machine and Robot vision

Pattern recognition and artificial intelligence

Video processing

Astronomy

Computer graphics

Spectroscopy

1.3 Summary

In this very short chapter, we have learned a few important concepts that we are going to see in details in the subsequent chapters of the book. In the next chapter, we will see the process of installation of Python 3 on the windows.

Exercise

As an exercise to this chapter, you can find out the more differences between analog and digital signals.

Chapter 2

Installing Python 3 on Windows

In the last chapter, we had a brief overview of the definitions of the important concepts that we will be discussing in this book. This chapter is dedicated to understanding the installation process of Python 3 on Windows computer and setting up the environment for programming.

2.1 Python Website

We can visit Python website to download the installable for Windows platform. The URL to the Python website is www.python.org. Open any web browser of your choice and visit this URL. The following page will appear in the browser windows: (figure 2.1)

Figure 2.1 Python Homepage

The page shown above in figure 2.1, is Python’s homepage. There is a Downloads link in the horizontal menu. Hover the mouse pointer over the Downloads link and following popup will appear: (figure 2.2)

Figure 2.2 Download for Windows

Based on your operating system, it will show you the appropriate download option. For Windows, it will be an executable installation file. At the time of writing this book, the most recent version is 3.7.3 and by the time you are reading this, it might have had new release already. But the concepts and programming examples in this book will mostly be the same. So, go ahead and download the file. Once the download finishes, you can find the python-3.7.3.exe in Downloads directory of your user. Once located, double click on it, to start installation process. Following window will appear: (figure 2.3)

Figure 2.3 Python 3 installation

Make sure to check all the checkboxes. The last checkbox will make sure that we can launch the Python 3 executable from the command prompt. Then, click Install Now. It will ask you for admin privileges. After that it will continue the installation process and once the installation is successful, it will show the following window, (figure 2.4)

Figure 2.4: Python 3 installation success

You can click Close button and installation window will close. The Python 3 interpreter and Integrated Development and Learning Environment (IDLE) has been installed.

You can find the Python 3 interpreter and IDLE by searching in the search box of Windows. Another way to verify is to open cmd program and type in the command python at the command prompt. It should invoke the Python 3 interpreter as shown in figure 2.5.

Figure 2.5: Python 3 interpreter on Windows cmd

Note that the above step is only possible if you checked the checkbox asking you to add python to PATH during installation. To exit you need to type the command exit() and press enter.

2.2 Summary

In this chapter, we had learned to install the python interpreter on a Windows computer. We have not covered anything about the python basics and programming yet because we will study those concepts in the dedicated chapters. In the next chapter, we will see the Raspberry Pi and its setup in detail.

Exercise

As an exercise to this chapter, explore the homepage of python, www.python.org.

Chapter 3

Introduction to Raspberry Pi

In the last chapter, we learned how to install Python 3 on windows. We also saw how to verify the environment and also explored Python Software Foundation's website www.python.org.

In this chapter, we will familiarize ourselves with the concept of Single Board Computers. Then we will explore Raspberry Pi, the most famous Single Board Computer of our generation, in detail. We will learn how to boot up Raspberry Pi with Raspbian OS. Then, we will proceed to connect the Pi with the outside world through internet. We will learn how to remotely access Raspberry Pi Raspbian desktop and command prompt. In addition to that, we will also study hardware specifications of Raspberry Pi's latest