Real-Time Face & Eye Detection Using Haar Cascade

📌 Overview

This project implements real-time face and eye detection using OpenCV and Haar Cascade classifiers. The program captures video from a webcam and detects faces and eyes using pre-trained Haar cascade XML files.

🛠 Features

• Real-time face detection using haarcascade_frontalface_default.xml
• Real-time eye detection using haarcascade_eye.xml
• Uses OpenCV for image processing
• Adjustable detection parameters

🚀 Setup Instructions

🔹 Prerequisites

Ensure you have the following installed:

• Python (>=3.7)
• OpenCV library (opencv-python)
• Haar Cascade XML files for face and eye detection

🔹 Install Dependencies

Run the following command to install OpenCV:

pip install opencv-python

🔹 Clone the Repository

Use SSH (if set up):

git clone git@github.com:NurulBashar/RealTimeFaceDetectionUsingHaarCascade.git

Or use HTTPS:

git clone https://github.com/NurulBashar/RealTimeFaceDetectionUsingHaarCascade.git

🔹 Add Haar Cascade Files

Download the required Haar cascade XML files and place them in your project directory:

• haarcascade_frontalface_default.xml
• haarcascade_eye.xml

📜 Usage

Run the script using:

python main.py

• The webcam will open and start detecting faces and eyes.
• Press 'q' to exit the program.

📝 Code Explanation

🔹 Main Components:

1. Capture Video from Webcam:

   cap = cv2.VideoCapture(0)
   cap.set(4, 640)  # Set width
   cap.set(4, 480)  # Set height

2. Load Haar Cascade Files:

   face_cascade = cv2.CascadeClassifier("haarcascade_frontalface_default.xml")
   eye_cascade = cv2.CascadeClassifier("haarcascade_eye.xml")

3. Face & Eye Detection in Real-Time:

   faces = face_cascade.detectMultiScale(img_gray, 1.3, 2)
   for (x, y, w, h) in faces:
       cv2.rectangle(img, (x, y), (x + w, y + h), (0, 0, 255), 2)

4. Display Output:

   cv2.imshow("Face and Eye Detection", img)

🎯 Expected Output

The script will detect faces and eyes and highlight them using rectangles:

• Face: Red rectangle 🟥
• Eyes: Green rectangle 🟩

🔧 Troubleshooting

1. Error: Face cascade file not loaded!

   • Ensure the haarcascade_frontalface_default.xml file is in the correct directory.

2. No face detected?

   • Adjust detectMultiScale() parameters: scaleFactor and minNeighbors.

3. Webcam not working?

   • Change cv2.VideoCapture(0) to cv2.VideoCapture(1) if multiple cameras exist.

📜 License

This project is open-source and released under the MIT License.

📌 Acknowledgments

• OpenCV: https://opencv.org
• Haar Cascade Classifiers: OpenCV GitHub

👨‍💻 Author

Nurul Bashar