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Display Images with NI Vision in LabVIEW and LabWindows/CVI

Updated Apr 24, 2023

Reported In

Software

  • LabVIEW Full
  • Vision Development Module
  • LabWindows/CVI Full

Driver

  • NI-IMAQ

Issue Details

What are my options for displaying images using NI Software? What are some common issues associated with displaying images?

Solution

There are several methods for displaying images using NI Vision software in LabVIEW and LabWindows/CVI.

In LabVIEW you have the following options:
  • Picture Control or Intensity Graph
    If you are using an older version of LabVIEW (6.1 and prior) that does not contain the Image Display control, then there are two options for displaying the image in LabVIEW. If you have the Base version of LabVIEW, then you can use the LabVIEW Intensity Graph to display the image. If you have the Full or Professional versions of LabVIEW, then the Graphics and Sound palette will be available and you can use the Picture Control to display images. 

    For either of these displays, you will need to extract the 2D pixel array from the image and then use one of those indicators on the front panel. The following are some common questions and issues with Intensity Graphs and Picture Controls:

In LabWindows/CVI you have the following options:

  • UIR Image Control
    If you have the Vision Development Module, you can access the Image Control by right clicking in an empty space of the UIR panel » Custom Controls » NI Vision » Image Control. An included example where this is displayed is OCR (with Image Control).
    • imaqDisplayImage Function
      You may also choose to show your image in another window. The window becomes visible when you call the function. Furthermore, the window is associated with the image until you close the window, dispose of the image, or call this function again with the same window number. For more information regarding this function please consult page 6-11 of the IMAQ Vision for LabWindows/CVI Reference Manual

      Vision Examples for LabWindows/CVI can be found:
      <Program Files>\National Instruments\CVI2017\samples\More Samples\Vision
      which links to the following path:
      <Users>\Public\Public Documents\National Instruments\CVI\Samples\Vision

    Additional Information

    Make sure that you have the Vision Acquisition Software (VAS) installed to be able to acquire images from your camera. VAS includes the drivers needed to connect and take images into your IDE.