Installing OpenCV for Python 3.6 on Windows: A Comprehensive Guide

If you are a developer looking to get started with computer vision in Python, OpenCV (Open Source Computer Vision Library) is an excellent choice. This article provides a step-by-step guide to install OpenCV 2 for Python 3.6 on a Windows system. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced developer, this guide will help you set up your environment seamlessly.

Prerequisites

Before you start with the installation process, ensure that you meet the following prerequisites:

Basic knowledge of Python and command-line interface. Access to a Windows-based system. Internet connection to download required files.

Step 1: Install Python 3.6

The first step in the installation process is to ensure that you have Python 3.6 installed on your system. You can download the latest version of Python 3.6 from the official Python website. During the installation, make sure to check the option to Add Python to PATH. This ensures that Python is accessible from the command line.

Step 2: Install pip if Not Already Installed

If pip is not installed with your Python installation, you can install it manually. Pip is a package installer for Python, and it’s essential for installing third-party libraries like OpenCV.

How to Install pip Manually

Download Open Command Prompt and navigate to the directory where you downloaded Run the following command:

python 

Step 3: Install OpenCV using pip

Once you have pip installed, you can proceed to install OpenCV. There are two versions of OpenCV you can install:

opencv-python: This includes the core OpenCV functionalities. opencv-contrib-python: This includes additional contrib modules which can be useful for advanced computer vision tasks.

To install the core OpenCV library, open Command Prompt and run:

pip install opencv-python

To install the contrib modules, run:

pip install opencv-contrib-python

Step 4: Verify the Installation

To verify that OpenCV has been installed correctly, open a Python shell or create a Python script and run the following code:

import cv2print(cv2.__version__)

If OpenCV was installed correctly, you should see the version of OpenCV printed out, confirming the installation was successful.

Troubleshooting

If you encounter issues during the installation, consider the following:

Ensure that pip is up to date:

python -m pip install --upgrade pip

Run your commands with administrative privileges if you face permission issues.

Alternative Method Using Anaconda

If you are already using Anaconda, the process can be simplified:

Create a new Python 3.6 environment:

conda create -n opencv python3.6

Activate the new environment:

conda activate opencv

Install OpenCV in the activated environment:

pip install opencv-pythonpip install opencv-contrib-python

Check the installation version:

pythonimport cv2print(cv2.__version__)

Remember to activate the opencv environment each time you want to use OpenCV. This ensures that OpenCV is used within the environment and not the global Python installation.

Use the following commands to activate and start a Jupyter notebook session:

conda activate opencvjupyter-notebook

Create a new notebook and type the following code:

import cv2cv2.__version__

If everything is set up correctly, the version of OpenCV should be printed out.