matplotlib: how to draw a rectangle on image

Question

How to draw a rectangle on an image, like this:

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
from PIL import Image
import numpy as np
im = np.array(Image.open(\'dog.png\'         


        

Answer 1

There is no need for subplots, and pyplot can display PIL images, so this can be simplified further:

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
from matplotlib.patches import Rectangle
from PIL import Image

im = Image.open('stinkbug.png')

# Display the image
plt.imshow(im)

# Get the current reference
ax = plt.gca()

# Create a Rectangle patch
rect = Rectangle((50,100),40,30,linewidth=1,edgecolor='r',facecolor='none')

# Add the patch to the Axes
ax.add_patch(rect)

Or, the short version:

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
from matplotlib.patches import Rectangle
from PIL import Image

# Display the image
plt.imshow(Image.open('stinkbug.png'))

# Add the patch to the Axes
plt.gca().add_patch(Rectangle((50,100),40,30,linewidth=1,edgecolor='r',facecolor='none'))