Python OpenCV | cv2.imshow() method

The cv2.imshow() function in OpenCV is used to display an image in a window. It creates a window with a specified name and shows the given image. This function is commonly used to view images and verify image processing results.

For this article, a sample image is used name "logo.png", which is displayed below:

Example: In this example, the sample image is loaded and displayed in a window.

Output

Explanation:

• cv2.imread("logo.png") reads the image and stores it in img.
• cv2.imshow("Image", img) displays the image in a window named "Image".
• cv2.waitKey(0) waits until a key is pressed.
• cv2.destroyAllWindows() closes the window.

Syntax

cv2.imshow(window_name, image)

Parameters:

• window_name: Name of the window where the image will be displayed.
• image: The image that needs to be displayed.

Examples

Example 1: In this example, an image is loaded in grayscale mode and displayed.

Output: The grayscale image is displayed in a window.

Explanation:

• cv2.imread("logo.png", 0) loads the image in grayscale.
• cv2.imshow("Gray Image", img) displays the grayscale image.

Example 2: In this example, the image is resized before displaying it.

Output: resized image (300×300) is displayed.

Explanation:

• cv2.resize(img, (300,300)) resizes the image.
• cv2.imshow("Resized", res) displays the resized image.

Example 3: The same image is displayed in two different windows with different window names. This shows how cv2.imshow() can create multiple display windows.

Output: The same image is displayed in two separate windows named "Window 1" and "Window 2".

Explanation:

• cv2.imshow("Window 1", img) displays the image in the first window.
• cv2.imshow("Window 2", img) displays the image in the second window.