blImageAPI

What is it and Why?

blImageAPI is a library that wraps opencv's IplImage* images with a std::shared_ptr smart pointer and makes IplImage* images work with any type of data, work similar to std::vector and work with STL algorithms

• It was started started before OpenCV introduced the c++ version Mat images, and allowed the use of IplImage* images, CvCapture* devices and more with automatic memory release avoiding memory leaks

• The library contains many useful tools and algorithms geared toward making the use of opencv easier.

• It adds special iterators to IplImage* images making them usable in STL algorithms, including Circula>r ROI iterators that can iterate over an image's ROI and can be used with STL algorithms

• The library also adds a few algorithms that ease the use of IplImage* images in algorithms geared towards scientific use

• It is an ongoing project where I collect all the various image analysis related tools I've used in the past and keep using today

• Do with the source what you want, use it in your own projects, or use it as learning material

How do I use it?

• The library is a header only template library that you can use by just including its header as follows:

#include <blImage.hpp>

• It defines everything inside the blImageAPI namespace

• The blImage<T> can be used interchangibly with IplImage* and cv::Mat in existing OpenCV algorithms

• For example, creating a 10x10 image/matrix of double values, initializing its entries to -7.3:

blImageAPI::blImage<double> myMatrix(10,10,-7.3);

• Or for example, creating a 100x150 black image or red image

blImageAPI::blImage< blColor3<unsigned char> > myBlackImg(100,150,blColor3<unsigned char>(0,0,0));

blImageAPI::blImage< blColor3<unsigned char> > myRedImg(100,150,blColor3<unsigned char>(0,0,255));

• Or using it in an STL algorithm such as std::copy:

 // Create and initialize an unsigned char image

 blImageAPI::blImage<unsigned char> myWord(1,1000,'\0');

 // A string we will copy into the unsigned char image

 std::string hello = "hello world\n";

 // Copying the string

 std::copy(hello.begin(),hello.end(),myWord.begin());

 // Outputting the image to the standard console

 std::cout << myWord << "\n\n";
	 

It outputs the following:

1 1000
0
0 0 1 1000
h e l l o   w o r l d

Which is formatted as follows:

imageRows imageColumns
COI (Channel Of Interest)
ROI (Region Of Interest)
data (What's stored in the image)

Dependencies

• OpenCV library

• blMathAPI library (another one of my very light weight header only libraries)

• #include <memory> from the STL library (used for std::shared_ptr smart pointers)

License?

MIT License

Do what you like with the source, use it however you like, maybe even as a reference or learning material