dlib/tools/imglab

imglab is a simple graphical tool for annotating images with object bounding

boxes and optionally their part locations.  Generally, you use it when you want

to train an object detector (e.g. a face detector) since it allows you to

easily create the needed training dataset.   



You can compile imglab with the following commands:

    cd dlib/tools/imglab

    mkdir build

    cd build

    cmake ..

    cmake --build . --config Release

Note that you may need to install CMake (www.cmake.org) for this to work.  On a

unix system you can also install imglab into /usr/local/bin by running 

    sudo make install  

This will make running it more convenient.



Next, to use it, lets assume you have a folder of images called /tmp/images.

These images should contain examples of the objects you want to learn to

detect.  You will use the imglab tool to label these objects.  Do this by

typing the following command:

    ./imglab -c mydataset.xml /tmp/images

This will create a file called mydataset.xml which simply lists the images in

/tmp/images.  To add bounding boxes to the objects you run:

    ./imglab mydataset.xml

and a window will appear showing all the images.  You can use the up and down

arrow keys to cycle though the images and the mouse to label objects.  In

particular, holding the shift key, left clicking, and dragging the mouse will

allow you to draw boxes around the objects you wish to detect.  



Once you finish labeling objects go to the file menu, click save, and then

close the program. This will save the object boxes back to mydataset.xml.  You

can verify this by opening the tool again with:

    ./imglab mydataset.xml

and observing that the boxes are present.





imglab can do a few additional things.  To see these run:

    imglab -h 

and also read the instructions in the About->Help menu.