comic_slicer.py

import sys
import cv2

if len(sys.argv) != 3:
    print("Usage: python comic_slicer.py input_file output_prefix")
    sys.exit(1)

input_file = sys.argv[1]
output_prefix = sys.argv[2]

# Load the input image
image = cv2.imread(input_file)

# Convert the image to grayscale
gray = cv2.cvtColor(image, cv2.COLOR_BGR2GRAY)

# Apply binary thresholding to convert the image to black and white
_, thresh = cv2.threshold(gray, 0, 255, cv2.THRESH_BINARY_INV + cv2.THRESH_OTSU)

# Find contours in the thresholded image
contours, _ = cv2.findContours(thresh, cv2.RETR_EXTERNAL, cv2.CHAIN_APPROX_SIMPLE)

# Sort the contours from left to right
contours = sorted(contours, key=lambda ctr: cv2.boundingRect(ctr)[0])

# Loop over the contours and extract each panel as a separate image
for i, ctr in enumerate(contours):
    # Get the bounding box coordinates for the contour
    x, y, w, h = cv2.boundingRect(ctr)

    # Extract the panel as a separate image
    panel = image[y:y+h, x:x+w]

    # Save the panel as a separate image file
    cv2.imwrite(f'output_prefix_{i+1}.png', panel)
    
## ChatGPT input: ##
# Write a script in python:
# input: an image of a multi-panel comic strip.  the panels are delineated clearly by black borders, and the background of the image is white
# output: a series of separate images that consist of all of the individual panels of the comic
# the script will accept the input filename as a command line argument, and to accept a second command line argument as the prefix for the output filenames