The camera alone can do plenty, but with the data it captures you can do even more.  One way to explore your thermal images is to use sketches in a programming language from Processing.org that runs on a full-blown computer.  There is an Adafruit tutorial on installing the Processing environment on a Raspberry Pi, and their website has links for Mac and Windows users as well.

The Inspector Sketch

Once you have the Processing package installed and set up, here is a sketch to download and try. Open a new sketch window, copy the following code and paste it there, and save it as ConvertBMPinspector01. Be sure you're working in the Processing environment and not in the Arduino environment. It's an easy mistake to make.

// ConvertBMPinspector01 - Read and enlarge a modified 32x24 24-bit gray BMP file,
//                         display an upscaled 256x192 BMP image in 256 colors.
// Ver. 1 - Fetch filenames and display BMPs in sequence.
//          Add nav buttons and mouseover pixel temperatures
//          This sketch does no checking for file compatibility.
//          Only frm_____.bmp images from the thermal camera sketch will work.
//          Any other files in the data folder will fail.

import java.util.Date;

byte b[], colorPal[];     // Buffers for input file bytes and for colors

int i, fileCount = 0, BGcolor = 48, colorMap = 1,
    butnsX = 30, butnsY = 290,
    offsetX = 153, offsetY = 6,    // These value pairs control where the onscreen features appear
    numbersX = 40, numbersY = 48,
    probeX = 190, probeY = 210;
boolean celsiusFlag = false;
float fixedPoint[];
String[] filenames;

void setup() {

  size(480, 360);      // Size must be the first statement
  background(BGcolor); // Clear the screen with a gray background

  colorPal = new byte[1024];   // Prepare a 1K color table
  loadColorTable(colorMap, 0); // Load color table, 1 == ironbow palette
  fixedPoint = new float[5];   // A buffer for appended fixed point values

  String path = sketchPath() + "/data";  // Read from the "/data" subdirectory

  filenames = listFileNames(path);
  fileCount = filenames.length;

  i = 0;
  if(fileCount < 1) {
    println("No files found.  Stopping.");
    noLoop();
  } else {
    loadBMPscreen(i);  // Read in the first frame for inspection
  }
}

void draw() {
  int sampleX, sampleY, pixelVal;
  float sampleTemp;

  sampleX = (mouseX - offsetX) >> 3;       // Map mouse position to BMP pixel space
  sampleY = 23 - ((mouseY - offsetY) >> 3);

  noStroke();
  smooth();
  fill(BGcolor + 16);
  rect(probeX, probeY, 180, 40);   // Clear the interactive window space

  if((sampleX >= 0) && (sampleX < 32) && (sampleY >= 0) && (sampleY < 24)) { // Mouse within BMP image bounds?
    pixelVal = b[54 + (32 * sampleY + sampleX) * 3] & 0xff;                  // Read the 8-bit pixel value

    fill(colorPal[4 * pixelVal + 2] & 0xFF, colorPal[4 * pixelVal + 1] & 0xFF, colorPal[4 * pixelVal + 0] & 0xFF);
    rect(probeX, probeY, 180, 40);
    fill(BGcolor);
    rect(probeX + 10, probeY + 10, 160, 20);   // Draw a colorized frame for the interactive temp readout

    sampleTemp = (float(pixelVal) + 1.0) / 257.0 * (fixedPoint[3] - fixedPoint[1]) + fixedPoint[1];
    if(!celsiusFlag)
      sampleTemp = sampleTemp * 1.8 + 32.0;

    fill(255);       // Ready to display white interactive text
    textSize(11);
    text(sampleX, probeX + 154, probeY + 19);   // Display X Y position
    text(sampleY, probeX + 154, probeY + 29);
    textSize(15);
    text(sampleTemp, probeX + 60, probeY + 25); // Display temperature

    if(pixelVal ==   0 && fixedPoint[0] < fixedPoint[1]) // Pixel values clipped at bottom limit?
      text("<", probeX + 40, probeY + 25);               // Show out-of-range indicator
    if(pixelVal == 255 && fixedPoint[4] > fixedPoint[3]) // Clipped at top?
      text(">", probeX + 40, probeY + 25);               // Same
  }

  noSmooth();     // Clear any highlighted buttons
  stroke(0);
  noFill();
  for(sampleX = 0; sampleX < 8; ++sampleX)
    rect(butnsX + sampleX * 52, butnsY, 51, 24);

  sampleX = mouseX - butnsX;
  sampleY = mouseY - butnsY;
  if(sampleX >=0 && sampleX < 416 && sampleY >= 0 && sampleY < 24) { // Mouse over buttons?
    sampleX = sampleX / 52;                       // Map mouse X to button X space
    stroke(BGcolor + 64);
    rect(butnsX + sampleX * 52, butnsY, 51, 24);  // Highlight border around a button
  }
}

void keyPressed() {  // Load a different thermal BMP image based on keystroke
  switch(key) {
    case '.':   // Next image
      i = (i + 1) % fileCount;
      break;
    case ',':   // Prev Image
      i = (i + fileCount - 1) % fileCount;
      break;
    case '>':   // 16 images forward
      i = i + 16 < fileCount ? i + 16 : fileCount - 1;
      break;
    case '<':   // 16 images back
      i = i - 16 < 0 ? 0 : i - 16;
      break;
    case '/':   // Last image
      i = fileCount - 1;
      break;
    case 'm':   // First image
      i = 0;
      break;
  }
  loadBMPscreen(i);
}

void mousePressed() {
  int sampleX, sampleY;

  sampleX = mouseX - butnsX;
  sampleY = mouseY - butnsY;
  if(sampleX >=0 && sampleX < 416 && sampleY >= 0 && sampleY < 24) { // Is mouse over button row?
    sampleX = sampleX / 52;                       // Map mouse X to button X space

    switch(sampleX) {
      case 1:   // First image
        i = 0;
        break;
      case 2:   // 16 images back
        i = i - 16 < 0 ? 0 : i - 16;
        break;
      case 3:   // Prev Image
        i = (i + fileCount - 1) % fileCount;
        break;
      case 4:   // Next image
        i = (i + 1) % fileCount;
        break;
      case 5:   // 16 images forward
        i = i + 16 < fileCount ? i + 16 : fileCount - 1;
        break;
      case 6:   // Last image
        i = fileCount - 1;
        break;
      case 7:   // Change color map
        loadColorTable(colorMap = (colorMap + 1) % 5, 0); // Load color table
        break;
      default:  // Toggle C/F
        celsiusFlag = !celsiusFlag;
        break;
    }
    loadBMPscreen(i);
  }
}

void loadBMPscreen(int fileIndex) {
  int x, y;

  b = loadBytes(filenames[fileIndex]);   // Open a file and read its 8-bit data
  background(BGcolor);                   // Clear screen
  enlarge8bitColor();                    // Place colored enlarged image on screen

  for(x = 0; x < 5; ++x) {  // Rebuild 5 float values from next 4*n bytes in the file
    fixedPoint[x] = expandFloat(b[2360 + (x * 4) + 0], b[2360 + (x * 4) + 1],
                                b[2360 + (x * 4) + 2], b[2360 + (x * 4) + 3]);
  }
  y = ((b[2387] & 0xff) << 24) + ((b[2386] & 0xff) << 16)
    + ((b[2385] & 0xff) <<  8) +  (b[2384] & 0xff);       // Reassemble a milliseconds time stamp

  textSize(10);        // Print text labels for the frame stats
  smooth();
  fill(255);
  text(filenames[fileIndex], numbersX + 5, numbersY + 40); // Show current filename

  if(celsiusFlag)
    text("Frame\n\n\nSeconds\n\nDegrees C", numbersX + 5, numbersY + 8);
  else
    text("Frame\n\n\nSeconds\n\nDegrees F", numbersX + 5, numbersY + 8);

  text("Approximate temperatures based on 8-bit pixel values", probeX - 42, probeY + 52); // Show approximation disclaimer

  textSize(15);
  text(fileIndex, numbersX + 5, numbersY + 25);     // Print frame number
  text(float(y) * 0.001, numbersX, numbersY + 74);  // Print time stamp in seconds

  if(celsiusFlag) {      // Show 3 temps in Celsius
    fill(255, 128, 64);
    text(fixedPoint[4], numbersX, numbersY + 108);
    fill(255, 200, 64);
    text(fixedPoint[2], numbersX, numbersY + 128);
    fill(128, 128, 255);
    text(fixedPoint[0], numbersX, numbersY + 148);

  } else {               // or show them in Farenheit
    fill(255, 128, 64);
    text(fixedPoint[4] * 1.8 + 32.0, numbersX, numbersY + 108);
    fill(255, 200, 64);
    text(fixedPoint[2] * 1.8 + 32.0, numbersX, numbersY + 128);
    fill(128, 128, 255);
    text(fixedPoint[0] * 1.8 + 32.0, numbersX, numbersY + 148);
  }

  noSmooth();
  stroke(0);
  fill(BGcolor + 24);
  for(x = 0; x < 8; ++x)     // Draw 8 button rectangles
    rect(butnsX + x * 52, butnsY, 51, 24);
  for(x = 0; x < 50; ++x) {  // Paint a mini colormap gradient within last button
    y = int(map(x, 0, 50, 0, 255));
    stroke(colorPal[4 * y + 2] & 0xFF, colorPal[4 * y + 1] & 0xFF, colorPal[4 * y + 0] & 0xFF);
    line(butnsX + 365 + x, butnsY + 1, butnsX + 365 + x, butnsY + 23);
  }
  smooth();  // Add text labels to buttons
  fill(255);
  textSize(15);
  text("|<      <<       <         >        >>      >|", butnsX + 70, butnsY + 17);
  if(celsiusFlag)
    text("C", butnsX + 20, butnsY + 18);
  else
    text("F", butnsX + 20, butnsY + 18);
}

void enlarge8bitColor() {  // Convert a small gray BMP array and plot an enlarged colormapped version
  int x, y;

  noStroke();

  for(y = 0; y < 24; ++y) {   // Count all source pixels
    for(x = 0; x < 32; ++x) {
      int pixMid = b[54 + ((32 * y + x) +  0) * 3] & 0xFF;
      fill(colorPal[4 * pixMid + 2] & 0xFF, colorPal[4 * pixMid + 1] & 0xFF, colorPal[4 * pixMid + 0] & 0xFF);  // Get color from table
      rect(offsetX + 8 * x, offsetY + 8 * (23 - y), 8, 8);  // Draw a square pixel, bottom up
    }
  }
}

void loadColorTable(int choiceNum, int offset) {
  int i, x;

  switch(choiceNum) {
    case 1:     // Load 8-bit BMP color table with computed ironbow curves
      for(x = 0; x < 256; ++x) {
        float fleX = (float)x / 255.0;

        float fleG = 255.9 * (1.02 - (fleX - 0.72) * (fleX - 0.72) * 1.96);
        fleG = (fleG > 255.0) || (fleX > 0.75) ? 255.0 : fleG;  // Truncate curve
        i = (int)fleG;
        colorPal[offset + x * 4 + 2] = byte(i & 0xFF);    // Red vals

        fleG = fleX * fleX * 255.9;
        i = (int)fleG;
        colorPal[offset + x * 4 + 1] = byte(i & 0xFF);    // Grn vals

        fleG = 255.9 * (14.0 * (fleX * fleX * fleX) - 20.0 * (fleX * fleX) + 7.0 * fleX);
        fleG = fleG < 0.0 ? 0.0 : fleG;  // Truncate curve
        i = (int)fleG;
        colorPal[offset + x * 4 + 0] = byte(i & 0xFF);    // Blu vals
      }
      break;
    case 2:  // Compute quadratic "firebow" palette
      for(x = 0; x < 256; ++x) {
        float fleX = (float)x / 255.0;

        float fleG = 255.9 * (1.00 - (fleX - 1.0) * (fleX - 1.0));
        i = (int)fleG;
        colorPal[offset + x * 4 + 2] = byte(i & 0xFF);    // Red vals

        fleG = fleX < 0.25 ? 0.0 : (fleX - 0.25) * 1.3333 * 255.9;
        i = (int)fleG;
        colorPal[offset + x * 4 + 1] = byte(i & 0xFF);    // Grn vals

        fleG = fleX < 0.5 ? 0.0 : (fleX - 0.5) * (fleX - 0.5) * 1023.9;
        i = (int)fleG;
        colorPal[offset + x * 4 + 0] = byte(i & 0xFF);    // Blu vals
      }
      break;
    case 3:  // Compute "alarm" palette
      for(x = 0; x < 256; ++x) {
        float fleX = (float)x / 255.0;

        float fleG = 255.9 * (fleX < 0.875 ? 1.00 - (fleX * 1.1428) : 1.0);
        i = (int)fleG;
        colorPal[offset + x * 4 + 2] = byte(i & 0xFF);    // Red vals

        fleG = 255.9 * (fleX < 0.875 ? 1.00 - (fleX * 1.1428) : (fleX - 0.875) * 8.0);
        i = (int)fleG;
        colorPal[offset + x * 4 + 1] = byte(i & 0xFF);    // Grn vals

        fleG = 255.9 * (fleX < 0.875 ? 1.00 - (fleX * 1.1428) : 0.0);
        i = (int)fleG;
        colorPal[offset + x * 4 + 0] = byte(i & 0xFF);    // Blu vals
      }
      break;
    case 4:    // Grayscale, black hot 
      for(x = 0; x < 256; ++x) {
        colorPal[offset + x * 4 + 2] = byte(255 - x & 0xFF);    // Red vals
        colorPal[offset + x * 4 + 1] = byte(255 - x & 0xFF);    // Grn vals
        colorPal[offset + x * 4 + 0] = byte(255 - x & 0xFF);    // Blu vals
      }
      break;
    default:    // Grayscale, white hot 
      for(x = 0; x < 256; ++x) {
        colorPal[offset + x * 4 + 2] = byte(x & 0xFF);    // Red vals
        colorPal[offset + x * 4 + 1] = byte(x & 0xFF);    // Grn vals
        colorPal[offset + x * 4 + 0] = byte(x & 0xFF);    // Blu vals
      }
  }
}

// Rebuild a float from a fixed point decimal value encoded in 4 bytes
float expandFloat(byte m1, byte m2, byte e1, byte e2) {
  int fracPart;
  float floatPart;

  fracPart = ((e2 & 0xff) << 8) + (e1 & 0xff);   // Reassemble 16-bit value
  floatPart = (float)fracPart / 49152.0;         // Convert into fractional portion of float
  fracPart = ((m2 & 0xff) << 8) + (m1 & 0xff);   // Reassemble 16-bit value
  return ((float)fracPart + floatPart) - 1000.0; // Complete reconstructing original float
}

String[] listFileNames(String dir) {   // Return the filenames from a directory as an array of Strings
  File file = new File(dir);

  if (file.isDirectory()) {
    String names[] = file.list();
    return names;
  } else    // It's not a directory
    return null;
}
Again, the programming interfaces for Processing and Arduino are very similar, and it's easy to mistake one for the other. In fact, both environments store sketches in separate Sketchbook folders, and sometimes the wrong folder will appear when saving a new sketch. Double check every time. You may have to manually navigate to the correct folder.

Once you've saved this sketch in the Sketchbook folder with a filename, Processing has placed it in a subfolder with the same name.  It's good to know where to find this subfolder when importing thermal image datasets.  The editor window can quickly open it for you by starting at the menu bar and selecting Sketch>Show sketch folder, where the new file should appear.

So far, so good.  There are two more sketches to go.

This guide was first published on Mar 27, 2020. It was last updated on Mar 27, 2020.

This page (The Processing Language) was last updated on Jan 29, 2020.

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