Adding a background image in python

Question

I'm trying to add a background image to a canvas in Python. So far the code looks like this:

from Tkinter import *
from PIL import ImageTk,Image

... other stuffs

root=Tk()
canvasWidth=600
canvasHeight=400
self.canvas=Canvas(root,width=canvasWidth,height=canvasHeight)
backgroundImage=root.PhotoImage("D:\Documents\Background.png")
backgroundLabel=root.Label(parent,image=backgroundImage)
backgroundLabel.place(x=0,y=0,relWidth=1,relHeight=1)
self.canvas.pack()
root.mainloop()

It's returning an AttributeError: PhotoImage

joaquin · Answer 1 · 2012-11-30T17:31:52.180

10

PhotoImage is not an attribute of the Tk() instances (root). It is a class from Tkinter.

So, you must use:

backgroundImage = PhotoImage("D:\Documents\Background.gif")

Beware also Label is a class from Tkinter...

Edit:

Unfortunately, Tkinter.PhotoImage only works with gif files (and PPM). If you need to read png files you can use the PhotoImage (yes, same name) class in the ImageTk module from PIL.

So that, this will put your png image in the canvas:

from Tkinter import *
from PIL import ImageTk

canvas = Canvas(width = 200, height = 200, bg = 'blue')
canvas.pack(expand = YES, fill = BOTH)

image = ImageTk.PhotoImage(file = "C:/Python27/programas/zimages/gato.png")
canvas.create_image(10, 10, image = image, anchor = NW)

mainloop()

enter image description here

edited Nov 30 '12 at 17:31

answered Nov 30 '12 at 01:11

joaquin

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Thanks for the reply! So... how do I load the image into the canvas? – user1689935 Nov 30 '12 at 01:40
Is it still possible to draw other stuffs over the image? – user1689935 Nov 30 '12 at 20:09

infiNity9819 · Answer 2 · 2020-09-03T12:58:25.113

0

just change to :

    image = Image.open("~~~path.png")
    backgroundImage=ImageTk.PhotoImage(image)

believe me this will 100% work

edited Sep 03 '20 at 12:58

answered Mar 30 '15 at 04:21

infiNity9819

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2
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What did you do? I did the same and it worked. Perhaps older version. Btw this is 5 year old thread. – infiNity9819 Sep 03 '20 at 12:58

score 0 · Answer 3 · edited Dec 11 '20 at 15:15

0

from Tkinter import *
from PIL import ImageTk

canvas = Canvas(width = 200, height = 200, bg = 'blue')
canvas.pack(expand = YES, fill = BOTH)

image = ImageTk.PhotoImage(file = "C:/Python27/programas/zimages/gato.png")
canvas.create_image(10, 10, image = image, anchor = NW)

mainloop()

edited Dec 11 '20 at 15:15

maxbachmann

2,862
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answered Dec 11 '20 at 13:14

skee

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Welcome to StackOverflow. While this code may solve the question, [including an explanation](https://meta.stackexchange.com/q/114762) of how and why this solves the problem would really help to improve the quality of your post, and probably result in more up-votes. Remember that you are answering the question for readers in the future, not just the person asking now. Please [edit](https://stackoverflow.com/posts/65252059/edit) your answer to add explanations and give an indication of what limitations and assumptions apply. – Ruli Dec 11 '20 at 15:34

score 0 · Answer 4 · answered May 06 '21 at 21:17

You are using root to Attribute PhotoImage this is impossible! root is your window Tk() class so you cant Attribute it for PhotoImage because it's dosen't have it so you see AttributeError tkinter.Tk() and tkinter.PhotoImage is a different classes. and the same with tkinter.Label.

your code will not working with root.PhotoImage and root.Label. try to PhotoImage and Label directly.

to create a Label:

backgroundlabel = Label(parent, image=img)

if use any types of png or jpg and jpeg you can't draw it with just PhotoImage you will need PIL library

pip3 install PIL

when you have it use it like:

from PIL import Image, ImageTk # import image so you can append the path and imagetk so you can convert it as PhotoImage

now get your full path image like:

C:/.../img.png

Now use it :

path = "C:/.../img.png"         # Get the image full path
load = Image.open(path)         # load that path
img  = ImageTk.PhotoImage(load) # convert the load to PhotoImage

now you have your code work.

full code:

from Tkinter import *
from PIL import ImageTk,Image

... other stuffs

root            = Tk()
canvasWidth     = 600
canvasHeight    = 400
self.canvas     = Canvas(root,width=canvasWidth,height=canvasHeight)
path            = "D:\Documents\Background.png"  # Get the image full path
load            = Image.open(path)               # load that path
img             = ImageTk.PhotoImage(load)
backgroundLabel = Label(parent,image=img)
backgroundLabel .place(x=0,y=0,relWidth=1,relHeight=1)
self.canvas     .pack()
root            .mainloop()

Hope this will helpfull.

Adding a background image in python

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