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How to create the Ugandan National Flag using Python – Happy Independence Day UG…

ByTumusiime Kwiringira
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In this project-tutorial, you will learn how to create the Ugandan National Flag using Python. Today (9th/October/2023), Uganda celebrates her 61st Independence Day and as a way to celebrate our Independence day as Ugandans, we decided to share with you how you can create our National Flag using the Python Language.

Requirements:

  • Python Programming Language (python3)
  • Google Colab
  • Python Libraries (Numpy, Matplotlib, & Pillow)

So to create the Ugandan National Flag using Python and Google Colab, we will be following the steps below;

Step-1: Import all the required Libraries…

In the first cell, we will begin by importing various python libraries that are needed throughout the code as below; 

# Import the required libraries...
import numpy as np
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import matplotlib.patches as patches
from matplotlib.animation import FuncAnimation
from matplotlib.offsetbox import OffsetImage, AnnotationBbox
from google.colab import files
from PIL import Image
import io

Each imported library is required for a specific use;

  • numpy is imported as np for numerical operations.
  • matplotlib.pyplot is imported as plt for creating plots.
  • matplotlib.patches is imported as patches for drawing shapes on the plot.
  • matplotlib.offsetbox is imported for working with images and annotations.
  • google.colab.files is imported to enable file upload in Google Colab.
  • PIL is imported from the PIL library for working with images. (Use !pip install pillow) to install it first.
  • io is imported for input/output operations.

Step-2: Upload the Crested-Crane Image

In the next cell, we use the files.upload() function from Google Colab to prompt the user to upload an image from their local machine.

# Upload an image from your local machine
uploaded = files.upload()

You can used the Image below of the Crested Crane. Please ensure to use an image editing software like Photoshop or any or your choice and put the image in a round shape with a white background.

Fig-1: Crested-Crane

Step-3: Get the Filename of the Uploaded Image

Create a new cell to get the filename of the uploaded image.

# Get the filename of the uploaded image
uploaded_filename = list(uploaded.keys())[0]

This cell retrieves the filename of the uploaded image from the dictionary returned by files.upload(). It assumes that only one file was uploaded.

We will be writing the next lines of code in the same cell created above.

Step-4: Set the Filename to a Specific Value

# Set the filename to a specific value (in this case, "ug-she-crane.jpg")
uploaded_filename = "ug-crane.jpg"

Here, the code manually sets the uploaded_filename variable to a specific filename, “ug-crane.jpg“. This is done to ensure that a specific image is used consistently in the code.

Step-5: Define the Colors of the Ugandan Flag

# Define the colors of the Ugandan flag
colors = ['#FF0000', '#FFFF00', '#000000', '#FF0000', '#FFFF00', '#000000']

This block of code defines a list of colors representing the colors of the Ugandan flag. The list contains six colors, alternating in the pattern of black, yellow, and red.

Step-6: Create a Figure and Axis for the Plot

# Create a figure and axis for the plot
fig, ax = plt.subplots()

Here, a Matplotlib figure (fig) and axis (ax) are created, providing a canvas for the plot.

Step-7: Create Colored Rectangles for Each Stripe

# Create colored rectangles for each stripe of the Ugandan flag
for i, color in enumerate(colors):
    rect = patches.Rectangle((0, i), width=10, height=1, facecolor=color, edgecolor='gray')
    ax.add_patch(rect)
  • This block of code uses a loop to create six colored rectangles, each representing a stripe of the Ugandan flag.
  • The enumerate function is used to iterate through both the colors list and the corresponding index i.
  • patches.Rectangle is used to create a rectangle with specified coordinates, width, height, face color, and edge color.
  • Each rectangle is added to the plot using ax.add_patch.

Step-8: Define the Size and Position of the Crested Crane Emblem Circle

# Define the size and position of the emblem (crested crane) circle
crane_size = 2
crane_x = (10 - crane_size) / 2
crane_y = 2
  • In this block of code, the size, crane_size, and position, crane_x and crane_y, of the crested crane emblem circle are defined.
  • crane_size represents the diameter of the circle.
  • crane_x is calculated to place the circle in the middle of the flag (assuming the flag width is 10 units).
  • crane_y is the initial y-coordinate of the circle.

Step-9: Create an Ellipse (Circle) for the Crested Crane Emblem

# Create an Ellipse (circle) for the emblem with specified properties
crane = patches.Ellipse(
    (crane_x + crane_size / 2, crane_y + crane_size / 2),
    width=crane_size,
    height=crane_size,
    facecolor='#FFFFFF',  # White color
    edgecolor='gray'
)
ax.add_patch(crane)
  • In this block of code, an elliptical patch is created using patches.Ellipse to represent the white circle in the middle of the flag.
  • The Ellipse is positioned at (crane_x + crane_size / 2, crane_y + crane_size / 2), which is the center of the circle.
  • The width and height parameters are set to crane_size to make it a circle.
  • facecolor is set to white ('#FFFFFF'), and edgecolor is set to gray, determining the colors of the circle.

Step-10: Load and Open the Emblem (Crested Crane) Image

# Load and open the emblem (crested crane) image
emblem_image = Image.open(uploaded_filename)
  • This line of code loads and opens the emblem image using the Image.open method from the Pillow library.
  • The image file to be opened is specified by uploaded_filename.

Step-11: Calculate the Position for Placing the Emblem Image

# Calculate the position for placing the emblem image within the circle
emblem_x = crane_x + crane_size / 2
emblem_y = crane_y + crane_size / 2
  • Here, the code calculates the position (emblem_x and emblem_y) where the emblem image should be placed within the circular emblem.
  • emblem_x is set to the x-coordinate of the center of the circle.
  • emblem_y is set to the y-coordinate of the center of the circle.

Step-12: Create an OffsetImage with the Emblem Image

# Create an OffsetImage with the emblem image and desired zoom level
emblem = OffsetImage(emblem_image, zoom=0.5)
  • In this line of code, an OffsetImage is created with the emblem_image loaded earlier.
  • The zoom parameter is set to 0.5, which means the image will be scaled down to half of its original size.

Step-13: Create an AnnotationBbox to Place the OffsetImage on the Plot

# Create an AnnotationBbox to place the OffsetImage on the plot
emblem_box = AnnotationBbox(emblem, (emblem_x, emblem_y), frameon=False)
ax.add_artist(emblem_box)
  • Here, an AnnotationBbox is created to position the emblem image on the plot.
  • The (emblem_x, emblem_y) coordinates determine the position of the emblem image within the circle.
  • frameon=False ensures that there won’t be a frame or border around the emblem image.

Step-14: Set Equal Aspect Ratio for the Plot and Display the Axes

# Set equal aspect ratio for the plot and display the axes
ax.axis('equal')
plt.axis('on')
  • Here the aspect ratio of the axis is set to ‘equal’ using ax.axis('equal'). This ensures that the plot maintains its proportions.
  • plt.axis('on') is used to display the axes on the plot.

Step-15: Display the Final Plot

# Display the final plot
plt.show()

Finally, this line of code displays the completed plot with the Ugandan flag and the crested crane emblem in the middle within the Colab Environment using plt.show().

Here is the full code;-

Upon putting together all the steps above, we have the final code as shown below…

# Import the required libraries...
import numpy as np
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import matplotlib.patches as patches
from matplotlib.offsetbox import OffsetImage, AnnotationBbox
from google.colab import files
from PIL import Image
import io

# Install the Pillow library
!pip install pillow

# Upload an image from your local machine
uploaded = files.upload()

# Get the filename of the uploaded image
uploaded_filename = list(uploaded.keys())[0]

# Set the filename to a specific value (in this case, "ug-crane.jpg")
uploaded_filename = "ug-crane.jpg"

# Define the colors of the Ugandan flag
colors = ['#FF0000', '#FFFF00', '#000000', '#FF0000', '#FFFF00', '#000000']

# Create a figure and axis for the plot
fig, ax = plt.subplots()

# Create colored rectangles for each stripe of the Ugandan flag
for i, color in enumerate(colors):
    rect = patches.Rectangle((0, i), width=10, height=1, facecolor=color, edgecolor='gray')
    ax.add_patch(rect)

# Define the size and position of the emblem (crested crane) circle
crane_size = 2
crane_x = (10 - crane_size) / 2
crane_y = 2

# Create an Ellipse (circle) for the emblem with specified properties
crane = patches.Ellipse(
    (crane_x + crane_size / 2, crane_y + crane_size / 2),
    width=crane_size,
    height=crane_size,
    facecolor='#FFFFFF',  # White color
    edgecolor='gray'
)
ax.add_patch(crane)

# Load and open the emblem (crested crane) image
emblem_image = Image.open(uploaded_filename)

# Calculate the position for placing the emblem image within the circle
emblem_x = crane_x + crane_size / 2
emblem_y = crane_y + crane_size / 2

# Create an OffsetImage with the emblem image and desired zoom level
emblem = OffsetImage(emblem_image, zoom=0.5)
# Create an AnnotationBbox to place the OffsetImage on the plot
emblem_box = AnnotationBbox(emblem, (emblem_x, emblem_y), frameon=False)
ax.add_artist(emblem_box)

# Set equal aspect ratio for the plot and display the axes
ax.axis('equal')
plt.axis('on')

# Display the final plot
plt.show()

Final Output

Upon running the last cell of the code above, you should be having the output of the Ugandan National Flag as shown below in the Colab Environment;

Conclusion

The code above generates a plot representing the Ugandan National Flag with a circular emblem (the crested crane) placed in the middle as it is on the real physical Flag. The python code uses various libraries and functions from Matplotlib, Pillow (PIL), and Google Colab was used to achieve this visualization. Each step is carefully designed to upload, process, and display the image and plot components correctly. Have fun creating your Country’s National Flag…

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