This document provides instructions for setting up OpenCV 2.4.9 with Visual Studio Express 2012 on Windows 10. It includes downloading OpenCV and Visual Studio, setting the system environment path to include the OpenCV binaries, configuring a new project in Visual Studio to include the OpenCV libraries and include directories, and provides a simple example code to load and display an image. The instructions are also applicable to other versions of OpenCV and Visual Studio with some minor differences.

1. Using openCV 2.4.9
with Visual Studio
Express 2012
David Hsu

2. openCV 2.4.9 ft. Visual Studio 2012
• openCV 2.4.9
https://sourceforge.net/projects/opencvlibrary/files/opencv-
win/2.4.9/opencv-2.4.9.exe/download
• Visual Studio Express 2012
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=34673

3. Other versions
• This tutorial works under the platform of windows 10 pro, with
openCV 2.4.9 using Visual Studio Express 2012.
• It is also applicable to other versions but with some minor
differences in setting.
• OpenCV provides the official built-in library for visual studio,
depending on the compiler’s version. Please check if there is the
corresponding built-in library in the opencv package you have.
• vc14 : built for Visual Studio 2015
vc12 : built for Visual Studio 2013
vc11 : built for Visual Studio 2012
vc10 : built for Visual Studio 2010
• For example, for opencv 2.4.9, it supports Visual Studio 2010, 2012,
and 2013.

4. Extract opencv under C drive
• Extract opencv under C:

5. Set up System Environment Path
• Choose Advanced system settings in System panel

6. Set up System Environment Path
• Click Environment Variables in System Properties

7. Set up System Environment Path
• Double click Path to edit

8. Set up System Environment Path
• Add path : C:opencvbuildx64vc11bin
1.
2.

9. Set up System Environment Path
• Add path : C:opencvbuildx64vc11bin
3.
5.
4.

10. Reboot the computer after setting
• It is recommended to reboot the computer after setting.
6. 7.

11. New Project in Visual Studio
• New Project…

12. New Project in Visual Studio
• Name the project (e.g. cvProject)

13. Win32 Application Wizard
• Next

14. Application Settings
• Check “Console application” and “Empty project”

15. Set up project’s Properties
•

16. Set up project’s Properties
•

17. Configuration Manager…
•

18. New a Platform
•

19. Choose x64 as a new platform
•

20. x64 platform
•

21. Choose All Configurations
•

22. Select C/C++
•

23. Edit Additional Include Directories
•

24. Additional Include Directories
•

25. Additional Include Directories
• Add directory : C:opencvbuildinclude

26. Additional Include Directories
• Same steps to add directory : C:opencvbuildincludeopencv
C:opencvbuildincludeopencv2

27. Linker > General
•

28. Additional Library Directories
•

29. Additional Library Directories
• Choose the suitable folder corresponding to your IDE

30. Additional Library Directories
• Add directory : C:opencvbuildx64vc11lib

31. Change Configuration to Debug
•

32. Save the settings
•

33. Additional Dependencies (Debug)
•

34. Additional Dependencies (Debug)
• Add the following libraries :
opencv_contrib249d.lib
opencv_videostab249d.lib
opencv_superres249d.lib
opencv_nonfree249d.lib
opencv_gpu249d.lib
opencv_ocl249d.lib
opencv_legacy249d.lib
opencv_ts249d.lib
opencv_calib3d249d.lib
opencv_features2d249d.lib
opencv_objdetect249d.lib
opencv_highgui249d.lib
opencv_video249d.lib
opencv_photo249d.lib
opencv_imgproc249d.lib
opencv_flann249d.lib
opencv_ml249d.lib
opencv_core249d.lib
• Notice: Name may be different according to the opencv version you have.
e.g. opencv_core310d.lib for opencv 3.1.0 (d means the .lib is for debug mode)

35. Change Configuration to Release
•

36. Save the settings
•

37. Additional Dependencies (Release)
• Similar steps for Release mode

38. Additional Dependencies (Release)
• Add the following libraries :
opencv_stitching249.lib
opencv_contrib249.lib
opencv_videostab249.lib
opencv_superres249.lib
opencv_nonfree249.lib
opencv_gpu249.lib
opencv_ocl249.lib
opencv_legacy249.lib
opencv_ts249.lib
opencv_calib3d249.lib
opencv_features2d249.lib
opencv_objdetect249.lib
opencv_highgui249.lib
opencv_video249.lib
opencv_photo249.lib
opencv_imgproc249.lib
opencv_flann249.lib
opencv_ml249.lib
opencv_core249.lib
• Notice: Name may be different according to the opencv version you have.
e.g. opencv_core310.lib for opencv 3.1.0

39. Complete project’s settings
•

40. Add Resource Files
• Right click “Resource Files” to add .cpp files

41. Add Resource Files
• Right click “Resource Files” to add .cpp files

42. Add Resource Files
• Add a .cpp file

43. main.cpp

44. main.cpp
#include <opencv2/core/core.hpp>
#include <opencv2/highgui/highgui.hpp>
#include <iostream>
using namespace cv;
using namespace std;
int main()
{
Mat image;
image = imread("lena.bmp", CV_LOAD_IMAGE_COLOR); // Read the file
if(! image.data ) // Check for invalid input
{
cout << "Could not open or find the image" << std::endl ;
return -1;
}
namedWindow( "Display window", WINDOW_AUTOSIZE );// Create a window for display.
imshow( "Display window", image ); // Show our image inside it.
waitKey(0); // Wait for a keystroke in the window
return 0;
}

45. Build and Run the project
• Place the image under the same folder with the .cpp file or
use image’s direct directory to open the image.

46. Load and display an image
• Use this project as a template to develop opencv projects in
the future.