OpenCV - numpy array is 'bad argument type' for cv2.imread?

Question

I'm trying to read an image using cv2.imread(image). 'image' is a reference to an element of a list of numpy arrays. The console tells me that my argument - image - is of type , so it should work with cv2.imread(), but i get the following error: 'TypeError: bad argument type for built-in operation'.

What gives?

Answer 1

The image argument which you're passing must be a path to the actual image i.e

image = 'picture/image/trail.jpg'

• cv2.imread() accepts the path where the actual image is located in your drive.
• If you pass an numpy.ndarray which is already an array of image values, it gives the that TypeError: bad argument type for built-in operation

Answer 2

• cv2.imread() is used to load an image. It takes the image path as a string argument. Which is the reason of this error.
  • If you have created an image using numpy array, than no need to read it again, as cv2 accepts a numpy array as an image.
  • For further information this might be useful: How to convert a python numpy array to an RGB image with Opencv 2.4?