OpenCV hangs when using multiprocessing on a Raspberry Pi - opencv

Question

This code runs as expected, and gives the expected output
import multiprocessing
import cv2
import os
path = r"/home/pi/Desktop/calibration.jpg"
image = cv2.imread(path)
def cvtcolor(img):
print "converting to gray ..."
gray = cv2.cvtColor(img, cv2.COLOR_BGR2GRAY)
print "converted to gray"
if True:
p = multiprocessing.Process(name='test',
target=cvtcolor,
kwargs={'img':image}
)
p.start()
p2 = multiprocessing.Process(name='test',
target=cvtcolor,
kwargs={'img':image}
)
p2.start()
outputs:
converting to gray ...
converting to gray ...
converted to gray
converted to gray
However, this code hangs when executed
import multiprocessing
import cv2
import os
path = r"/home/pi/Desktop/calibration.jpg"
image = cv2.imread(path)
def cvtcolor(img):
print "converting to gray ..."
gray = cv2.cvtColor(img, cv2.COLOR_BGR2GRAY)
print "converted to gray"
cvtcolor(image)
if True:
p = multiprocessing.Process(name='test',
target=cvtcolor,
kwargs={'img':image}
)
p.start()
the function executed in the main process proceeds, but the function executed in the "test" process hangs forever
converting to gray ...
converted to gray
converting to gray ...
I am using OpenCV version 3.2.0, installed as detailed here on Raspbian Jessie (raspberry pi)
Does anyone has an explanation / solution for this?

Answer 1

have a look at what is returned. If you try the BGR2GRAY directly, you will get an array with shape attribute same as input image but with only 1 color, e.g. gray. When you run the same function using multiprocessing you do not get an array returned. It will have no shape attribute, try printing the output to see what form it is in, then maybe reconstruct an image from this.