Back Projection

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Original author	Ana Huamán
Compatibility	OpenCV >= 3.0

Goal

In this tutorial you will learn:

• What is Back Projection and why it is useful
• How to use the OpenCV function cv::calcBackProject to calculate Back Projection
• How to mix different channels of an image by using the OpenCV function cv::mixChannels

Theory

What is Back Projection?

• Back Projection is a way of recording how well the pixels of a given image fit the distribution of pixels in a histogram model.
• To make it simpler: For Back Projection, you calculate the histogram model of a feature and then use it to find this feature in an image.
• Application example: If you have a histogram of flesh color (say, a Hue-Saturation histogram ), then you can use it to find flesh color areas in an image:

How does it work?

• We explain this by using the skin example:
• Let's say you have gotten a skin histogram (Hue-Saturation) based on the image below. The histogram besides is going to be our model histogram (which we know represents a sample of skin tonality). You applied some mask to capture only the histogram of the skin area:
  

  T0
  

  T1
• Now, let's imagine that you get another hand image (Test Image) like the one below: (with its respective histogram):
  

  T2
  

  T3
• What we want to do is to use our model histogram (that we know represents a skin tonality) to detect skin areas in our Test Image. Here are the steps
  1. In each pixel of our Test Image (i.e. \(p(i,j)\) ), collect the data and find the correspondent bin location for that pixel (i.e. \(( h_{i,j}, s_{i,j} )\) ).
  2. Lookup the model histogram in the correspondent bin - \(( h_{i,j}, s_{i,j} )\) - and read the bin value.
  3. Store this bin value in a new image (BackProjection). Also, you may consider to normalize the model histogram first, so the output for the Test Image can be visible for you.

  4. Applying the steps above, we get the following BackProjection image for our Test Image:

     
  5. In terms of statistics, the values stored in BackProjection represent the probability that a pixel in Test Image belongs to a skin area, based on the model histogram that we use. For instance in our Test image, the brighter areas are more probable to be skin area (as they actually are), whereas the darker areas have less probability (notice that these "dark" areas belong to surfaces that have some shadow on it, which in turns affects the detection).

Code

• What does this program do?
  • Loads an image
  • Convert the original to HSV format and separate only Hue channel to be used for the Histogram (using the OpenCV function cv::mixChannels )
  • Let the user to enter the number of bins to be used in the calculation of the histogram.
  • Calculate the histogram (and update it if the bins change) and the backprojection of the same image.
  • Display the backprojection and the histogram in windows.

C++

• Downloadable code:
  • Click here for the basic version (explained in this tutorial).
  • For stuff slightly fancier (using H-S histograms and floodFill to define a mask for the skin area) you can check the improved demo
  • ...or you can always check out the classical camshiftdemo in samples.
• Code at glance:

  
  #include "opencv2/imgproc.hpp"
  #include "opencv2/imgcodecs.hpp"
  #include "opencv2/highgui.hpp"
  
  #include <iostream>
  
  using namespace cv;
  using namespace std;
  
  Mat hue;
  int bins = 25;
  
  void Hist_and_Backproj(int, void* );
  
  int main( int argc, char* argv[] )
  {
      CommandLineParser parser( argc, argv, "{@input |  | input image}" );
      Mat src = imread( parser.get<String>( "@input" ) );
      if( src.empty() )
      {
          cout << "Could not open or find the image!\n" << endl;
          cout << "Usage: " << argv[0] << " <Input image>" << endl;
          return -1;
      }
  
      Mat hsv;
      cvtColor( src, hsv, COLOR_BGR2HSV );
  
      hue.create(hsv.size(), hsv.depth());
      int ch[] = { 0, 0 };
      mixChannels( &hsv, 1, &hue, 1, ch, 1 );
  
      const char* window_image = "Source image";
      namedWindow( window_image );
      createTrackbar("* Hue  bins: ", window_image, &bins, 180, Hist_and_Backproj );
      Hist_and_Backproj(0, 0);
  
      imshow( window_image, src );
      // Wait until user exits the program
      waitKey();
  
      return 0;
  }
  
  void Hist_and_Backproj(int, void* )
  {
      int histSize = MAX( bins, 2 );
      float hue_range[] = { 0, 180 };
      const float* ranges[] = { hue_range };
  
      Mat hist;
      calcHist( &hue, 1, 0, Mat(), hist, 1, &histSize, ranges, true, false );
      normalize( hist, hist, 0, 255, NORM_MINMAX, -1, Mat() );
  
      Mat backproj;
      calcBackProject( &hue, 1, 0, hist, backproj, ranges, 1, true );
  
      imshow( "BackProj", backproj );
  
      int w = 400, h = 400;
      int bin_w = cvRound( (double) w / histSize );
      Mat histImg = Mat::zeros( h, w, CV_8UC3 );
  
      for (int i = 0; i < bins; i++)
      {
          rectangle( histImg, Point( i*bin_w, h ), Point( (i+1)*bin_w, h - cvRound( hist.at<float>(i)*h/255.0 ) ),
                     Scalar( 0, 0, 255 ), FILLED );
      }
  
      imshow( "Histogram", histImg );
  }

Java

• Downloadable code:
  • Click here for the basic version (explained in this tutorial).
  • For stuff slightly fancier (using H-S histograms and floodFill to define a mask for the skin area) you can check the improved demo
  • ...or you can always check out the classical camshiftdemo in samples.
• Code at glance:

  import java.awt.BorderLayout;
  import java.awt.Container;
  import java.awt.Image;
  import java.util.Arrays;
  import java.util.List;
  
  import javax.swing.BoxLayout;
  import javax.swing.ImageIcon;
  import javax.swing.JFrame;
  import javax.swing.JLabel;
  import javax.swing.JPanel;
  import javax.swing.JSlider;
  import javax.swing.event.ChangeEvent;
  import javax.swing.event.ChangeListener;
  
  import org.opencv.core.Core;
  import org.opencv.core.CvType;
  import org.opencv.core.Mat;
  import org.opencv.core.MatOfFloat;
  import org.opencv.core.MatOfInt;
  import org.opencv.core.Point;
  import org.opencv.core.Scalar;
  import org.opencv.highgui.HighGui;
  import org.opencv.imgcodecs.Imgcodecs;
  import org.opencv.imgproc.Imgproc;
  
  class CalcBackProject1 {
      private Mat hue;
      private Mat histImg = new Mat();
      private JFrame frame;
      private JLabel imgLabel;
      private JLabel backprojLabel;
      private JLabel histImgLabel;
      private static final int MAX_SLIDER = 180;
      private int bins = 25;
  
      public CalcBackProject1(String[] args) {
          if (args.length != 1) {
              System.err.println("You must supply one argument that corresponds to the path to the image.");
              System.exit(0);
          }
  
          Mat src = Imgcodecs.imread(args[0]);
          if (src.empty()) {
              System.err.println("Empty image: " + args[0]);
              System.exit(0);
          }
  
          Mat hsv = new Mat();
          Imgproc.cvtColor(src, hsv, Imgproc.COLOR_BGR2HSV);
  
          hue = new Mat(hsv.size(), hsv.depth());
          Core.mixChannels(Arrays.asList(hsv), Arrays.asList(hue), new MatOfInt(0, 0));
  
          // Create and set up the window.
          frame = new JFrame("Back Projection 1 demo");
          frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
          // Set up the content pane.
          Image img = HighGui.toBufferedImage(src);
          addComponentsToPane(frame.getContentPane(), img);
          // Use the content pane's default BorderLayout. No need for
          // setLayout(new BorderLayout());
          // Display the window.
          frame.pack();
          frame.setVisible(true);
      }
  
      private void addComponentsToPane(Container pane, Image img) {
          if (!(pane.getLayout() instanceof BorderLayout)) {
              pane.add(new JLabel("Container doesn't use BorderLayout!"));
              return;
          }
  
          JPanel sliderPanel = new JPanel();
          sliderPanel.setLayout(new BoxLayout(sliderPanel, BoxLayout.PAGE_AXIS));
  
          sliderPanel.add(new JLabel("* Hue  bins: "));
          JSlider slider = new JSlider(0, MAX_SLIDER, bins);
          slider.setMajorTickSpacing(25);
          slider.setMinorTickSpacing(5);
          slider.setPaintTicks(true);
          slider.setPaintLabels(true);
          slider.addChangeListener(new ChangeListener() {
              @Override
              public void stateChanged(ChangeEvent e) {
                  JSlider source = (JSlider) e.getSource();
                  bins = source.getValue();
                  update();
              }
          });
          sliderPanel.add(slider);
          pane.add(sliderPanel, BorderLayout.PAGE_START);
  
          JPanel imgPanel = new JPanel();
          imgLabel = new JLabel(new ImageIcon(img));
          imgPanel.add(imgLabel);
  
          backprojLabel = new JLabel();
          imgPanel.add(backprojLabel);
  
          histImgLabel = new JLabel();
          imgPanel.add(histImgLabel);
          pane.add(imgPanel, BorderLayout.CENTER);
      }
  
      private void update() {
          int histSize = Math.max(bins, 2);
          float[] hueRange = {0, 180};
  
          Mat hist = new Mat();
          List<Mat> hueList = Arrays.asList(hue);
          Imgproc.calcHist(hueList, new MatOfInt(0), new Mat(), hist, new MatOfInt(histSize), new MatOfFloat(hueRange), false);
          Core.normalize(hist, hist, 0, 255, Core.NORM_MINMAX);
  
          Mat backproj = new Mat();
          Imgproc.calcBackProject(hueList, new MatOfInt(0), hist, backproj, new MatOfFloat(hueRange), 1);
  
          Image backprojImg = HighGui.toBufferedImage(backproj);
          backprojLabel.setIcon(new ImageIcon(backprojImg));
  
          int w = 400, h = 400;
          int binW = (int) Math.round((double) w / histSize);
          histImg = Mat.zeros(h, w, CvType.CV_8UC3);
  
          float[] histData = new float[(int) (hist.total() * hist.channels())];
          hist.get(0, 0, histData);
          for (int i = 0; i < bins; i++) {
              Imgproc.rectangle(histImg, new Point(i * binW, h),
                      new Point((i + 1) * binW, h - Math.round(histData[i] * h / 255.0)), new Scalar(0, 0, 255), Imgproc.FILLED);
          }
          Image histImage = HighGui.toBufferedImage(histImg);
          histImgLabel.setIcon(new ImageIcon(histImage));
  
          frame.repaint();
          frame.pack();
      }
  }
  
  public class CalcBackProjectDemo1 {
      public static void main(String[] args) {
          // Load the native OpenCV library
          System.loadLibrary(Core.NATIVE_LIBRARY_NAME);
  
          // Schedule a job for the event dispatch thread:
          // creating and showing this application's GUI.
          javax.swing.SwingUtilities.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
              @Override
              public void run() {
                  new CalcBackProject1(args);
              }
          });
      }
  }

Python

• Downloadable code:
  • Click here for the basic version (explained in this tutorial).
  • For stuff slightly fancier (using H-S histograms and floodFill to define a mask for the skin area) you can check the improved demo
  • ...or you can always check out the classical camshiftdemo in samples.
• Code at glance:

  from __future__ import print_function
  from __future__ import division
  import cv2 as cv
  import numpy as np
  import argparse
  
  def Hist_and_Backproj(val):
      
      bins = val
      histSize = max(bins, 2)
      ranges = [0, 180] # hue_range
      
  
      
      hist = cv.calcHist([hue], [0], None, [histSize], ranges, accumulate=False)
      cv.normalize(hist, hist, alpha=0, beta=255, norm_type=cv.NORM_MINMAX)
      
  
      
      backproj = cv.calcBackProject([hue], [0], hist, ranges, scale=1)
      
  
      
      cv.imshow('BackProj', backproj)
      
  
      
      w = 400
      h = 400
      bin_w = int(round(w / histSize))
      histImg = np.zeros((h, w, 3), dtype=np.uint8)
  
      for i in range(bins):
          cv.rectangle(histImg, (i*bin_w, h), ( (i+1)*bin_w, h - int(np.round( hist[i]*h/255.0 )) ), (0, 0, 255), cv.FILLED)
  
      cv.imshow('Histogram', histImg)
      
  
  
  parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description='Code for Back Projection tutorial.')
  parser.add_argument('--input', help='Path to input image.', default='home.jpg')
  args = parser.parse_args()
  
  src = cv.imread(cv.samples.findFile(args.input))
  if src is None:
      print('Could not open or find the image:', args.input)
      exit(0)
  
  
  
  hsv = cv.cvtColor(src, cv.COLOR_BGR2HSV)
  
  
  
  ch = (0, 0)
  hue = np.empty(hsv.shape, hsv.dtype)
  cv.mixChannels([hsv], [hue], ch)
  
  
  
  window_image = 'Source image'
  cv.namedWindow(window_image)
  bins = 25
  cv.createTrackbar('* Hue  bins: ', window_image, bins, 180, Hist_and_Backproj )
  Hist_and_Backproj(bins)
  
  
  
  cv.imshow(window_image, src)
  cv.waitKey()
  

Explanation

• Read the input image:

C++

    CommandLineParser parser( argc, argv, "{@input |  | input image}" );
    Mat src = imread( parser.get<String>( "@input" ) );
    if( src.empty() )
    {
        cout << "Could not open or find the image!\n" << endl;
        cout << "Usage: " << argv[0] << " <Input image>" << endl;
        return -1;
    }

Java

        if (args.length != 1) {
            System.err.println("You must supply one argument that corresponds to the path to the image.");
            System.exit(0);
        }

        Mat src = Imgcodecs.imread(args[0]);
        if (src.empty()) {
            System.err.println("Empty image: " + args[0]);
            System.exit(0);
        }

Python

parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description='Code for Back Projection tutorial.')
parser.add_argument('--input', help='Path to input image.', default='home.jpg')
args = parser.parse_args()

src = cv.imread(cv.samples.findFile(args.input))
if src is None:
    print('Could not open or find the image:', args.input)
    exit(0)

• Transform it to HSV format:

C++

    Mat hsv;
    cvtColor( src, hsv, COLOR_BGR2HSV );

Java

        Mat hsv = new Mat();
        Imgproc.cvtColor(src, hsv, Imgproc.COLOR_BGR2HSV);

Python

hsv = cv.cvtColor(src, cv.COLOR_BGR2HSV)

• For this tutorial, we will use only the Hue value for our 1-D histogram (check out the fancier code in the links above if you want to use the more standard H-S histogram, which yields better results):

C++

    hue.create(hsv.size(), hsv.depth());
    int ch[] = { 0, 0 };
    mixChannels( &hsv, 1, &hue, 1, ch, 1 );

Java

        hue = new Mat(hsv.size(), hsv.depth());
        Core.mixChannels(Arrays.asList(hsv), Arrays.asList(hue), new MatOfInt(0, 0));

Python

ch = (0, 0)
hue = np.empty(hsv.shape, hsv.dtype)
cv.mixChannels([hsv], [hue], ch)

• as you see, we use the function cv::mixChannels to get only the channel 0 (Hue) from the hsv image. It gets the following parameters:
  • &hsv: The source array from which the channels will be copied
  • 1: The number of source arrays
  • &hue: The destination array of the copied channels
  • 1: The number of destination arrays
  • ch[] = {0,0}: The array of index pairs indicating how the channels are copied. In this case, the Hue(0) channel of &hsv is being copied to the 0 channel of &hue (1-channel)
  • 1: Number of index pairs
• Create a Trackbar for the user to enter the bin values. Any change on the Trackbar means a call to the Hist_and_Backproj callback function.

C++

    const char* window_image = "Source image";
    namedWindow( window_image );
    createTrackbar("* Hue  bins: ", window_image, &bins, 180, Hist_and_Backproj );
    Hist_and_Backproj(0, 0);

Java

        JPanel sliderPanel = new JPanel();
        sliderPanel.setLayout(new BoxLayout(sliderPanel, BoxLayout.PAGE_AXIS));

        sliderPanel.add(new JLabel("* Hue  bins: "));
        JSlider slider = new JSlider(0, MAX_SLIDER, bins);
        slider.setMajorTickSpacing(25);
        slider.setMinorTickSpacing(5);
        slider.setPaintTicks(true);
        slider.setPaintLabels(true);
        slider.addChangeListener(new ChangeListener() {
            @Override
            public void stateChanged(ChangeEvent e) {
                JSlider source = (JSlider) e.getSource();
                bins = source.getValue();
                update();
            }
        });
        sliderPanel.add(slider);
        pane.add(sliderPanel, BorderLayout.PAGE_START);

Python

window_image = 'Source image'
cv.namedWindow(window_image)
bins = 25
cv.createTrackbar('* Hue  bins: ', window_image, bins, 180, Hist_and_Backproj )
Hist_and_Backproj(bins)

• Show the image and wait for the user to exit the program:

C++

    imshow( window_image, src );
    // Wait until user exits the program
    waitKey();

Java

        // Use the content pane's default BorderLayout. No need for
        // setLayout(new BorderLayout());
        // Display the window.
        frame.pack();
        frame.setVisible(true);

Python

cv.imshow(window_image, src)
cv.waitKey()

• Hist_and_Backproj function: Initialize the arguments needed for cv::calcHist . The number of bins comes from the Trackbar:

C++

    int histSize = MAX( bins, 2 );
    float hue_range[] = { 0, 180 };
    const float* ranges[] = { hue_range };

Java

        int histSize = Math.max(bins, 2);
        float[] hueRange = {0, 180};

Python

    bins = val
    histSize = max(bins, 2)
    ranges = [0, 180] # hue_range

• Calculate the Histogram and normalize it to the range \([0,255]\)

C++

    Mat hist;
    calcHist( &hue, 1, 0, Mat(), hist, 1, &histSize, ranges, true, false );
    normalize( hist, hist, 0, 255, NORM_MINMAX, -1, Mat() );

Java

        Mat hist = new Mat();
        List<Mat> hueList = Arrays.asList(hue);
        Imgproc.calcHist(hueList, new MatOfInt(0), new Mat(), hist, new MatOfInt(histSize), new MatOfFloat(hueRange), false);
        Core.normalize(hist, hist, 0, 255, Core.NORM_MINMAX);

Python

    hist = cv.calcHist([hue], [0], None, [histSize], ranges, accumulate=False)
    cv.normalize(hist, hist, alpha=0, beta=255, norm_type=cv.NORM_MINMAX)

• Get the Backprojection of the same image by calling the function cv::calcBackProject

C++

    Mat backproj;
    calcBackProject( &hue, 1, 0, hist, backproj, ranges, 1, true );

Java

        Mat backproj = new Mat();
        Imgproc.calcBackProject(hueList, new MatOfInt(0), hist, backproj, new MatOfFloat(hueRange), 1);

Python

    backproj = cv.calcBackProject([hue], [0], hist, ranges, scale=1)

• all the arguments are known (the same as used to calculate the histogram), only we add the backproj matrix, which will store the backprojection of the source image (&hue)
• Display backproj:

C++

    imshow( "BackProj", backproj );

Java

        Image backprojImg = HighGui.toBufferedImage(backproj);
        backprojLabel.setIcon(new ImageIcon(backprojImg));

Python

    cv.imshow('BackProj', backproj)

• Draw the 1-D Hue histogram of the image:

C++

    int w = 400, h = 400;
    int bin_w = cvRound( (double) w / histSize );
    Mat histImg = Mat::zeros( h, w, CV_8UC3 );

    for (int i = 0; i < bins; i++)
    {
        rectangle( histImg, Point( i*bin_w, h ), Point( (i+1)*bin_w, h - cvRound( hist.at<float>(i)*h/255.0 ) ),
                   Scalar( 0, 0, 255 ), FILLED );
    }

    imshow( "Histogram", histImg );

Java

        int w = 400, h = 400;
        int binW = (int) Math.round((double) w / histSize);
        histImg = Mat.zeros(h, w, CvType.CV_8UC3);

        float[] histData = new float[(int) (hist.total() * hist.channels())];
        hist.get(0, 0, histData);
        for (int i = 0; i < bins; i++) {
            Imgproc.rectangle(histImg, new Point(i * binW, h),
                    new Point((i + 1) * binW, h - Math.round(histData[i] * h / 255.0)), new Scalar(0, 0, 255), Imgproc.FILLED);
        }
        Image histImage = HighGui.toBufferedImage(histImg);
        histImgLabel.setIcon(new ImageIcon(histImage));

Python

    w = 400
    h = 400
    bin_w = int(round(w / histSize))
    histImg = np.zeros((h, w, 3), dtype=np.uint8)

    for i in range(bins):
        cv.rectangle(histImg, (i*bin_w, h), ( (i+1)*bin_w, h - int(np.round( hist[i]*h/255.0 )) ), (0, 0, 255), cv.FILLED)

    cv.imshow('Histogram', histImg)

Results

Here are the output by using a sample image ( guess what? Another hand ). You can play with the bin values and you will observe how it affects the results:

R0

R1

R2