Template matching with transparent mask to answer (https://stackoverflow.com/questions/35642497/python-opencv-cv2-matchtemplate-with-transparency)

match.py

import cv2
import numpy as np
import sys

if len(sys.argv) < 3:
    print 'Usage: python match.py <template.png> <image.png>'
    sys.exit()

template_path = sys.argv[1]
template = cv2.imread(template_path, cv2.IMREAD_UNCHANGED)
channels = cv2.split(template)
zero_channel = np.zeros_like(channels[0])
mask = np.array(channels[3])

image_path = sys.argv[2]
image = cv2.imread(image_path, cv2.IMREAD_UNCHANGED)

mask[channels[3] == 0] = 1
mask[channels[3] == 100] = 0

# transparent_mask = None
# According to http://www.devsplanet.com/question/35658323, we can only use
# cv2.TM_SQDIFF or cv2.TM_CCORR_NORMED
# All methods can be seen here:
# http://docs.opencv.org/2.4/doc/tutorials/imgproc/histograms/template_matching/template_matching.html#which-are-the-matching-methods-available-in-opencv
method = cv2.TM_SQDIFF  # R(x,y) = \sum _{x',y'} (T(x',y')-I(x+x',y+y'))^2 (essentially, sum of squared differences)

transparent_mask = cv2.merge([zero_channel, zero_channel, zero_channel, mask])
result = cv2.matchTemplate(image, template, method, mask=transparent_mask)
min_val, max_val, min_loc, max_loc = cv2.minMaxLoc(result)
print 'Lowest squared difference WITH mask', min_val

# Now we'll try it without the mask (should give a much larger error)
transparent_mask = None
result = cv2.matchTemplate(image, template, method, mask=transparent_mask)
min_val, max_val, min_loc, max_loc = cv2.minMaxLoc(result)
print 'Lowest squared difference WITHOUT mask', min_val

requirements.txt

opencv-python==3.1.0.4

I run it and show

cv2.error: /io/opencv/modules/imgproc/src/templmatch.cpp:822: error: (-215) (depth == CV_8U || depth == CV_32F) && type == _templ.type() && _img.dims() <= 2 in function matchTemplateMask

same error

same error

images need to both be rgba, do file image.png

This works great until line 35 where it appears to insist that "transparent_mask" be of type UMat. (Or at least I think that's what it means.) The actual error is:
TypeError: Expected Ptr<cv::Umat> for argument '%s'
Any ideas?