Matplotlib Imread: Illustration and Examples

Hello coders!! In this article, we will be learning about matplotlib imread. We will learn about its syntax and then see some illustrated examples. Without wasting any time, let us get straight into the topic.

Contents

matplotlib.pyplot.imread() Function:

This method is used to read an image from a file into an array.

Syntax Matplotlib Imread:

matplotlib.pyplot.imread(fname, format=None)

Parameters:

fname : image file
format: image file format

Return Value of Matplotlib Imread:

This method returns the image data.

The image data. The returned array has shape

Grayscale images: (M, N)
RGB images: (M, N, 3)
RGBA images: (M, N, 4)

Illustrated Examples:

Let us now look into some examples to grasp a clearer concept.

Example 1: Loading Image:

import numpy as np 
import matplotlib.cbook as cbook 
import matplotlib.image as image 
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt 

with cbook.get_sample_data('img.jpg') as image_file: 
	image = plt.imread(image_file) 

fig, ax = plt.subplots() 
ax.imshow(image) 
ax.axis('off') 


plt.show()

cbook.get_sample_data() method is used to get the sample data file. Sample data files are stored in the ‘mpl-data/sample_data’ directory within the Matplotlib package. We then used the imread() method to return the image file. Lastly, using the imshow() method, we displayed the output.

Example 2: Watermark Image using matplotlib imread:

import numpy as np 
import matplotlib.cbook as cbook 
import matplotlib.image as image 
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt 


with cbook.get_sample_data('img.jpg') as file: 
	im = image.imread(file) 

fig, ax = plt.subplots() 

ax.plot(np.sin(10 * np.linspace(0, 1)), '-o', ms = 15,alpha = 0.6, mfc ='green') 


fig.figimage(im, 5, 5, zorder = 3, alpha =.5) 


plt.show()

As you can see, in this example, we have used the same image as a background and plotted the sine function curve over it. We used the same steps as the previous example to load and display the image. We then plotted the sin method over it using the numpy sin method.

Example 3: Clipping Image With Patches:

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import matplotlib.patches as patches
import matplotlib.cbook as cbook


with cbook.get_sample_data('img.jpg') as image_file:
    image = plt.imread(image_file)

fig, ax = plt.subplots()
im = ax.imshow(image)
patch = patches.Circle((100, 100), radius=90, transform=ax.transData)
im.set_clip_path(patch)

ax.axis('off')
plt.show()

In this example, we have clipped our image. Just like the previous examples, we used the cbook.get_sample_data() method to load our image. We then used patches.Circle() method to create a circle at the center (100,100) and radius 90. Using the set_clip_path() method is used to set the artist’s clip-path.

Example 4: Matplotlib imread grayscale:

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import matplotlib.image as img

image = img.imread('img.jpg')

plt.imshow(image[:,:,1], cmap='gray')
plt.show()

For this code, we have converted the image into grayscale. Like the previous examples, we use the imread() method to read the image file. We then slice the array and use cmap gray to convert our image to grayscale.

Example 5: Matplotlib imread RGB:

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import matplotlib.image as img
image = img.imread("img.jpg")
plt.imshow(image)
plt.show()

Here, we have loaded the image using matplotlib imread in RGB format. We then used the imshow() method to display the loaded image.

Specify the type of image in matplotlib imread:

As discussed earlier, the syntax of imread is as follows:

matplotlib.pyplot.imread(fname, format=None)

The format parameter specifies the image file format that will be assumed for reading the data. If not given, the format is deduced from the filename. If nothing can be deduced, PNG is tried.

Matplotlib imread vs cv2 imread:

Also, Read

Conclusion:

With this, we come to an end with this article. I hope that the concept of matplotlib imread was clarified from this article. It is essentially useful when we want to implement an image into our graphical representation.

However, if you have any doubts or questions, do let me know in the comment section below. I will try to help you as soon as possible.

Happy Pythoning!

Matplotlib imread	CV2 imread
Reads color value as RGB	Reads color value as BGR
Lists pixel rows from the bottom to the top	Lists pixel rows from the top to bottom
Less efficient	More efficient
`matplotlib_img=img.imread('img.jpg') plt.imshow(matplotlib_img)`	`cv_img=cv2.imread('img.jpg') plt.imshow(cv_img)`