Chapter 1, Cartoonifier and Skin Changer for Raspberry Pi, contains a complete tutorial and source code for both a desktop application and a Raspberry Pi that automatically generates a cartoon or painting from a real camera image, with several possible types of cartoons, including a skin color changer.

Chapter 2, Exploring Structure from Motion Using OpenCV, contains an introduction to Structure from Motion (SfM) via an implementation of SfM concepts in OpenCV. The reader will learn how to reconstruct 3D geometry from multiple 2D images and estimate camera positions.

Chapter 3, Number Plate Recognition Using SVM and Neural Networks, includes a complete tutorial and source code to build an automatic number plate recognition application using pattern recognition algorithms and also using a support vector machine and Artificial Neural Networks. The reader will learn how to train and predict pattern-recognition algorithms to decide whether an image is a number plate or not. It will also help classify a set of features into a character.

Chapter 4, Non-Rigid Face Tracking, contains a complete tutorial and source code to build a dynamic face tracking system that can model and track the many complex parts of a person's face.

Chapter 5, 3D Head Pose Estimation Using AAM and POSIT, includes all the background required to understand what Active Appearance Models (AAMs) are and how to create them with OpenCV using a set of face frames with different facial expressions. Besides, this chapter explains how to match a given frame through fitting capabilities offered by AAMs. Then, by applying the POSIT algorithm, one can find the 3D head pose.

Chapter 6, Face Recognition Using Eigenfaces or Fisherfaces, contains a complete tutorial and source code for a real-time face-recognition application that includes basic face and eye detection to handle the rotation of faces and varying lighting conditions in the images.

Chapter 7, Natural Feature Tracking for Augmented Reality, includes a complete tutorial on how to build a marker-based Augmented Reality (AR) application for iPad and iPhone devices with an explanation of each step and source code. It also contains a complete tutorial on how to develop a marker-less augmented reality desktop application with an explanation of what marker-less AR is and the source code.

You can download this chapter from: https://www.packtpub.com/sites/default/files/downloads/NaturalFeatureTrackingforAugmented Reality.pdf.

You don't need to have special knowledge in computer vision to read this book, but you should have good C/C++ programming skills and basic experience with OpenCV before reading this book. Readers without experience in OpenCV may wish to read the book Learning OpenCV for an introduction to the OpenCV features, or read OpenCV 2 Cookbook for examples on how to use OpenCV with recommended C/C++ patterns, because this book will show you how to solve real problems, assuming you are already familiar with the basics of OpenCV and C/C++ development.

In addition to C/C++ and OpenCV experience, you will also need a computer, and IDE of your choice (such as Visual Studio, XCode, Eclipse, or QtCreator, running on Windows, Mac, or Linux). Some chapters have further requirements, in particular:

An understanding of linear algebra is expected, such as basic vector and matrix operations, and eigen decomposition.

Mastering OpenCV 3, Second Edition is the perfect book for developers with basic OpenCV knowledge to use to create practical computer vision projects, as well as for seasoned OpenCV experts who want to add more computer vision topics to their skill set. It is aimed at senior computer science university students, graduates, researchers, and computer vision experts who wish to solve real problems using the OpenCV C++ interface, through practical step-by-step tutorials.

In this book, you will find a number of text styles that distinguish between different kinds of information. Here are some examples of these styles and an explanation of their meaning.

Code words in text, database table names, folder names, filenames, file extensions, pathnames, dummy URLs, user input, and Twitter handles are shown as follows: "You should put most of the code from this chapter into the cartoonifyImage() function"

A block of code is set as follows:

    int cameraNumber = 0;
    if (argc> 1)
      cameraNumber = atoi(argv[1]);
    // Get access to the camera.
    cv::VideoCapture capture

When we wish to draw your attention to a particular part of a code block, the relevant lines or items are set in bold:

    // Get access to the camera.
    cv::VideoCapture capture;

    camera.open(cameraNumber);
    if (!camera.isOpened()) {
      std::cerr<< "ERROR: Could not access the camera or video!" <<

Any command-line input or output is written as follows:

cmake -G "Visual Studio 10" 

New terms and important words are shown in bold. Words that you see on the screen, for example, in menus or dialog boxes, appear in the text like this: "In order to download new modules, we will go to Files | Settings | Project Name | Project Interpreter."

Feedback from our readers is always welcome. Let us know what you think about this book-what you liked or disliked. Reader feedback is important for us as it helps us develop titles that you will really get the most out of. To send us general feedback, simply e-mail [email protected], and mention the book's title in the subject of your message. If there is a topic that you have expertise in and you are interested in either writing or contributing to a book, see our author guide at www.packtpub.com/authors.

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