How can I convert an RGB image into grayscale in Python?

Question

I\'m trying to use matplotlib to read in an RGB image and convert it to grayscale.

In matlab I use this:

img = rgb2gray(imread(\'image.p         


        

Answer 1

The tutorial is cheating because it is starting with a greyscale image encoded in RGB, so they are just slicing a single color channel and treating it as greyscale. The basic steps you need to do are to transform from the RGB colorspace to a colorspace that encodes with something approximating the luma/chroma model, such as YUV/YIQ or HSL/HSV, then slice off the luma-like channel and use that as your greyscale image. matplotlib does not appear to provide a mechanism to convert to YUV/YIQ, but it does let you convert to HSV.

Try using matplotlib.colors.rgb_to_hsv(img) then slicing the last value (V) from the array for your grayscale. It's not quite the same as a luma value, but it means you can do it all in matplotlib.

Background:

• http://matplotlib.sourceforge.net/api/colors_api.html
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HSL_and_HSV

Alternatively, you could use PIL or the builtin colorsys.rgb_to_yiq() to convert to a colorspace with a true luma value. You could also go all in and roll your own luma-only converter, though that's probably overkill.