picam

Raspberry Pi (RPi) Camera Module Python Library

This module will allow some basic functionality to use the camera module from within Python without starting a new process to take the photo.

Based largely on a stripped down version of the raspistill and raspivid code, with a python wrapper.

Returns a PIL Image object

import picam
import time

i = picam.takePhoto()
i.save('/tmp/test.jpg')

# (width, height, jpg quality)
ii = picam.takePhotoWithDetails(640,480, 85) 

filename = "/tmp/picam-%s.h264" % time.strftime("%Y%m%d-%H%M%S")

# (width, height, duration = 5s)
picam.recordVideoWithDetails(filename,640,480,5000) 

#RGB pixel info
frame1 = picam.takeRGBPhotoWithDetails(width,height)
frame2 = picam.takeRGBPhotoWithDetails(width,height)

#returns RGB pixel list with modified pixels, and the quantity of changed pixels
(modified,q) = picam.difference(frame1,frame2,THRESHOLD)

#add disable_camera_led=1 to config.txt to have control over the LED
picam.LEDOn()
picam.LEDOff()

picam.config.imageFX = picam.MMAL_PARAM_IMAGEFX_WATERCOLOUR
picam.config.exposure = picam.MMAL_PARAM_EXPOSUREMODE_AUTO
picam.config.meterMode = picam.MMAL_PARAM_EXPOSUREMETERINGMODE_AVERAGE
picam.config.awbMode = picam.MMAL_PARAM_AWBMODE_SHADE
picam.config.ISO = 0 #auto
picam.config.ISO = 400
picam.config.ISO = 800

picam.config.sharpness = 0               # -100 to 100
picam.config.contrast = 0                # -100 to 100
picam.config.brightness = 50             #  0 to 100
picam.config.saturation = 0              #  -100 to 100
picam.config.videoStabilisation = 0      # 0 or 1 (false or true)
picam.config.exposureCompensation  = 0   # -10 to +10 ?
picam.config.rotation = 90               # 0-359
picam.config.hflip = 1                   # 0 or 1
picam.config.vflip = 0                   # 0 or 1
picam.config.shutterSpeed = 20000         # 0 = auto, otherwise the shutter speed in ms

picam.config.videoProfile = picam.MMAL_VIDEO_PROFILE_H264_HIGH
picam.config.videoFramerate = 15
picam.config.videoBitrate = 17000000

picam.config.inlineHeaders = 0         # Insert inline headers to stream (SPS, PPS), 0 or 1
picam.config.quantisationParameter = 0 # Quantisation parameter - quality. Set bitrate 0 and set this for variable bitrate

picam.config.roi = [0.0,0.0,0.5,0.5]  # Region of interest, normalised coordinates (0.0 - 1.0).
picam.config.roi = [0.5,0.5,0.25,0.25]

Installation

This extension depends on the Userland libraries, so they need to be installed first

sudo apt-get install cmake
sudo apt-get install python-dev
sudo apt-get install python-imaging

git clone https://github.com/raspberrypi/userland.git
cd userland
./buildme

Download the folder and run the setup command to install the script

sudo python setup.py install

or

sudo pip install https://github.com/ashtons/picam/zipball/master#egg=picam

Upgrade Firmware

Update the firmware (some functions are only available in the newer firmware versions)

sudo apt-get install rpi-update

sudo rpi-update

Make sure the necessary dependencies are installed and the latest versions

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get upgrade

sudo raspi-config  #to enable the camera

raspistill -o /tmp/test.jpg

sudo apt-get install python-imaging-tk

Troubleshooting

If you see an error message similar to the following

mmal: mmal_vc_port_parameter_set: failed to set port parameter 64:0:ENOSYS

mmal: Function not implemented

then you need to update your firmware.

mmal: main: Failed to create camera component

this error probably indicates that the camera hasn't been plugged in correctly.

Constants

MMAL_PARAM_EXPOSUREMODE_OFF
MMAL_PARAM_EXPOSUREMODE_AUTO
MMAL_PARAM_EXPOSUREMODE_NIGHT
MMAL_PARAM_EXPOSUREMODE_NIGHTPREVIEW
MMAL_PARAM_EXPOSUREMODE_BACKLIGHT
MMAL_PARAM_EXPOSUREMODE_SPOTLIGHT
MMAL_PARAM_EXPOSUREMODE_SPORTS
MMAL_PARAM_EXPOSUREMODE_SNOW
MMAL_PARAM_EXPOSUREMODE_BEACH
MMAL_PARAM_EXPOSUREMODE_VERYLONG
MMAL_PARAM_EXPOSUREMODE_FIXEDFPS
MMAL_PARAM_EXPOSUREMODE_ANTISHAKE
MMAL_PARAM_EXPOSUREMODE_FIREWORKS

MMAL_PARAM_AWBMODE_OFF
MMAL_PARAM_AWBMODE_AUTO
MMAL_PARAM_AWBMODE_SUNLIGHT
MMAL_PARAM_AWBMODE_CLOUDY
MMAL_PARAM_AWBMODE_SHADE
MMAL_PARAM_AWBMODE_TUNGSTEN
MMAL_PARAM_AWBMODE_FLUORESCENT
MMAL_PARAM_AWBMODE_INCANDESCENT
MMAL_PARAM_AWBMODE_FLASH
MMAL_PARAM_AWBMODE_HORIZON   

MMAL_PARAM_EXPOSUREMETERINGMODE_AVERAGE
MMAL_PARAM_EXPOSUREMETERINGMODE_SPOT
MMAL_PARAM_EXPOSUREMETERINGMODE_BACKLIT
MMAL_PARAM_EXPOSUREMETERINGMODE_MATRIX     

MMAL_PARAM_IMAGEFX_NONE
MMAL_PARAM_IMAGEFX_NEGATIVE
MMAL_PARAM_IMAGEFX_SOLARIZE
MMAL_PARAM_IMAGEFX_SKETCH
MMAL_PARAM_IMAGEFX_DENOISE
MMAL_PARAM_IMAGEFX_EMBOSS
MMAL_PARAM_IMAGEFX_OILPAINT
MMAL_PARAM_IMAGEFX_HATCH
MMAL_PARAM_IMAGEFX_GPEN
MMAL_PARAM_IMAGEFX_PASTEL
MMAL_PARAM_IMAGEFX_WATERCOLOUR
MMAL_PARAM_IMAGEFX_BLUR
MMAL_PARAM_IMAGEFX_SATURATION
MMAL_PARAM_IMAGEFX_COLOURSWAP
MMAL_PARAM_IMAGEFX_WASHEDOUT
MMAL_PARAM_IMAGEFX_POSTERISE
MMAL_PARAM_IMAGEFX_COLOURPOINT
MMAL_PARAM_IMAGEFX_COLOURBALANCE
MMAL_PARAM_IMAGEFX_CARTOON  

MMAL_VIDEO_PROFILE_H264_BASELINE
MMAL_VIDEO_PROFILE_H264_MAIN
MMAL_VIDEO_PROFILE_H264_HIGH