# Webcam Face Detection and Image Saving Script
# This script captures live video from the webcam, detects faces using a pre-trained Haar Cascade model,
# and allows saving images either automatically every 5 seconds or manually by pressing the 's' key.
# The captured images are saved in the 'images' directory.
import cv2
import os
import time
# Directory where the captured images will be saved
save_path = 'images'
os.makedirs(save_path, exist_ok=True) # Create the directory if it doesn't exist
# Load the Haar Cascade model for face detection
face_cascade = cv2.CascadeClassifier(cv2.data.haarcascades + 'haarcascade_frontalface_default.xml')
# Initialize the webcam
cap = cv2.VideoCapture(0)
# Check if the webcam is successfully opened
if not cap.isOpened():
print("Error: Could not open camera.")
else:
print("Camera is active. Press 's' to save an image manually, 'q' to quit.")
img_counter = 0 # Counter for naming saved images
start_time = time.time() # Timer for automatic saving
while True:
# Capture the current frame from the webcam
ret, frame = cap.read()
if not ret:
print("Can't receive frame. Exiting...")
break
# Convert the frame to grayscale (required for face detection)
gray = cv2.cvtColor(frame, cv2.COLOR_BGR2GRAY)
# Detect faces in the grayscale frame
faces = face_cascade.detectMultiScale(
gray,
scaleFactor=1.1,
minNeighbors=5,
minSize=(30, 30)
)
# Draw green rectangles around the detected faces
for (x, y, w, h) in faces:
cv2.rectangle(frame, (x, y), (x + w, y + h), (0, 255, 0), 2)
# Display the live video feed with rectangles
cv2.imshow('Webcam Live with Face Detection', frame)
# Save an image automatically every 5 seconds
if time.time() - start_time > 5:
img_name = f"{save_path}/img_{img_counter:04d}.png" # Generate image file name
cv2.imwrite(img_name, frame) # Save the current frame
print(f"{img_name} written!") # Confirm image save
img_counter += 1 # Increment the counter for the next image
start_time = time.time() # Reset the timer
# Save an image manually when 's' is pressed
if cv2.waitKey(1) & 0xFF == ord('s'):
img_name = f"{save_path}/img_{img_counter:04d}.png" # Generate image file name
cv2.imwrite(img_name, frame) # Save the current frame
print(f"{img_name} written!") # Confirm image save
img_counter += 1 # Increment the counter for the next image
# Exit the program when 'q' is pressed
if cv2.waitKey(1) & 0xFF == ord('q'):
print("Exiting...")
break
# Release the webcam and close all OpenCV windows
cap.release()
cv2.destroyAllWindows()