Setting Up the Color Blobs Counting Tool
After selecting the tool, you will need to choose the type of region and then configure it in the image where you expect to detect the blob feature(s):
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From the Region Type drop-down menu, select the type of region: Rectangle (default), Circle, Annulus or Polygon. Position and configure the region within the image where you expect the blob(s) to appear; make sure that the boundaries of the region cover the blob(s) and their possible locations. To help the performance of the tool, create smaller regions; larger regions require longer to inspect. If you’re not using a fixture, ensure that the blob(s) are present in roughly the same location in every image, or the region is large enough to account for the expected movement of the features.
Note: After adding the tool, you can change the type of region by right-clicking the region in the image and selecting the desired shape from the Change Region to option. - Press the OK button to confirm the region (press the Cancel button to not add the tool to the job).
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Once the search region has been configured, you will need to configure the tool's Color Library and activate the appropriate Color Model(s):
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If this is the first time that a color tool (Color Blob and Color Blobs (1-10) Location Tools, Color Pixel Count and Color Blob Presence/Absence Tools, Color Blob Area and Color Blob Areas (1-10) Measurement Tools, Color Blobs Counting Tool, Color Model Identification Tool or Color to Binary Image Filter Tool) has been added, you will need to first define the Color Library(s) and its Color Model(s).
- If another color tool has previously been added and you want to utilize an existing Color Library and its trained Color Models, go to the Settings tab and select your desired Color Library, and then activate your desired Color Models by checking them in the Library tab.
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By default, the tool will automatically result in a Fail until a Color Library has been defined. If a Color Library has been defined, the tool will automatically use that library and activate all Color Models contained within.
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- Once the Color Model(s) and Color Library(s) have been set, the tool will process the image and all pixels within the search region that match the selected Color Model(s) will be turned white (255), and those pixels not matching the selected Color Model(s) will be set to black (0).
- With the tool initially configured, load several images and adjust the tool's parameters, as needed, to compensate for your expected ranges of variations.
- Finally, if desired, use the tool's Input/Output properties to share tool data between other tools and/or other external devices.