Introduction to Labeling Tools

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Text Recognition Tool

The Text Recognition Tool can be used to define the text recognition range and automatically generate the recognition result.

  1. Click the Text Recognition Tool icon tools introduction text recognition icon (or press J on the keyboard).

  2. Long press the left mouse button in the selection region and move the cursor to draw a rectangle. Release the mouse button to confirm the selection.

  3. The automatically recognized characters will be displayed right under the selection frame.

Pre-trained Labeling Tool

After you validate a model, you can import new image data to the current module and use the pre-trained labeling feature to perform auto-labeling based on this model.

The pre-trained labeling feature is available only when the current module contains validated models.

The Pre-trained Labeling Tool can be used only on the following two types of data:

  • Unlabeled data

  • Automatically labeled data (images with a yellow triangle at the front of the image number)

  • The Pre-trained Labeling Tool can only label images that are not manually labeled. If you need to use the Pre-trained Labeling Tool on manually labeled images, you must clear these labels first.

  • Data after a manual adjustment will have the yellow triangle marker removed. The data will be no longer available for pre-trained labeling and VFM labeling.

The pre-trained labeling feature can significantly reduce the cost of manual labeling. However, the accuracy of the results depends on the model that you use. We recommend that you train a high precision model before you use the pre-trained labeling feature.

You can use the Pre-trained Labeling Tool in one of the following three methods:

  • Method 1: Pre-trained labeling button

    1. On the upper part of the image list, click the Pre-trained labeling button. All images in the image list will be labeled by using the Pre-trained Labeling Tool.

    2. After the labeling process is finished, you can view a yellow triangle in the upper left corner of the sequence number of the labeled images.

  • Method 2: Pre-trained labeling option

    1. In the image list, select one or more images that you need to label.

    2. Right-click the images and select Pre-trained labeling, the labeling process starts. After the labeling process is finished, you can view a yellow triangle in the upper left corner of the sequence number of the labeled images.

  • Method 3: Pre-trained Labeling Tool

    1. In the labeling toolbar, click the Pre-trained Labeling Tool icon tools pre labeling tool icon (or press D on the keyboard).

    2. On the upper part of the image, click Start labeling, and the Pre-trained Labeling Tool will start to label the image. After the labeling process is finished, you can view a yellow triangle in the upper left corner of the sequence number of the image.

  • If you clear all labels of an image, the yellow triangle before it will be cleared.

  • In the Classification module, if you modify the class labels of an image, the yellow triangle before it will be cleared.

VFM Labeling Tool

Mech-DLK incorporates the visual foundation models (VFMs) developed by Mech-Mind. You can use the VFM Labeling Tool powered by the VFMs to quickly label datasets.

The VFM Labeling Tool can be used only on the following two types of data:

  • Unlabeled data

  • Automatically labeled data (images with a yellow triangle at the front of the image number)

  • To use the VFM Labeling Tool, the available GPU memory on the current device must be greater than 6 GB; otherwise, the model conversion may fail.

  • The VFM Labeling Tool can only label images that are not manually labeled. If you need to use the VFM Labeling Tool on manually labeled images, you must clear these labels first.

  • Data after a manual adjustment will have the yellow triangle marker removed. The data will be no longer available for pre-trained labeling and VFM labeling.

  • The first time you use VFM Labeling Tool, it may take a few minutes for the tool to get ready, please be patient.

You can use the VFM Labeling Tool in one of the following three methods:

  • Method 1: VFM labeling button

    1. On the upper part of the image list, click the VFM labeling button. All images in the image list will be VFM-labeled.

    2. After the labeling process is finished, you can view a yellow triangle in the upper left corner of the sequence number of the labeled images.

  • Method 2: VFM labeling option

    1. In the image list, select one or more images that you need to label.

    2. Right-click the images and select VFM labeling, the labeling process starts. After the labeling process is finished, you can view a yellow triangle in the upper left corner of the sequence number of the labeled images.

  • Method 3: VFM Labeling Tool

    1. In the labeling toolbar, right-click the Pre-trained Labeling Tool icon tools pre labeling tool icon (or press D on the keyboard), and then click the VFM Labeling Tool icon tools super labeling tool icon (or press S on the keyboard).

    2. On the upper part of the image, click Start labeling, and the VFM Labeling Tool will start to label the image. After the labeling process is finished, you can view a yellow triangle in the upper left corner of the sequence number of the image.

After the labeling is completed, Mech-DLK will generate a label class named "model_label" for the labels created by the VFMs.

If you want to modify VFM Labeling Settings, please follow these steps:

  1. In the labeling toolbar, right-click the Pre-trained Labeling Tool icon tools pre labeling tool icon (or press D on the keyboard), and then click the VFM Labeling Tool icon tools super labeling tool icon.

  2. Click the settings icon labelling settings on the upper area of the selection area.

  3. In the window of VFM Labeling Settings, you can modify the VFM labeling results.

Mask Tool

If there are some irrelevant parts that may interfere with model training, you can use the Mask Tool to cover such parts. The masked parts will not be involved in training. It is recommended to set a distinct color for the mask.

The Mask Tool supports different mask modes. You can choose whether the mask takes effect only on the current image or on all images as required.

You can choose among the following three mask tools built in the software according to actual needs.

Mask Polygon Tool

  1. Click the Mask Polygon Tool icon tools introduction mask polygon icon (or press Shift + P on the keyboard).

  2. Set “Fill” for the mask.

  3. Click the first position (vertex) in the selection area, then click the second one, third one, etc., to draw the labels, and right-click to finish.

Mask Brush Tool

  1. Right-click the Mask Polygon Tool icon tools introduction mask polygon icon, and then click the Mask Brush Tool icon tools introduction mask pen icon (or press Shift+B on the keyboard).

  2. Set the “Fill” of the mask and adjust the slider to determine the brush size.

  3. Press and hold the left mouse button in the selection area, move in any direction, and then release the left mouse button to finish the drawing.

Mask Lasso Tool

  1. Right-click the Mask Polygon Tool icon tools introduction mask polygon icon, and then click the Mask Lasso Tool icon tools introduction mask lasso icon (or press Shift+N on the keyboard).

  2. Set “Fill” for the mask.

  3. Press and hold the left mouse button in the selection area and move in any direction to form closed shapes with the starting point.

Mask Mode

Mask modes are divided into Single image mask and Global mask.

  • Single image mask: The mask is only valid in the current image.

    You can copy and paste single image masks by following the steps below.

    1. Use the Mask Tool to draw a single image mask.

    2. Click the Select Tool icon tools introduction select icon(or press F on the keyboard).

    3. In the labeling region, right-click the mask to be copied and click Copy (or press Ctrl+C on the keyboard); in the target image, right-click and select Paste (or press Ctrl + V on the keyboard). You can also select multiple target images in the image list, right-click and select Paste Mask(s) to paste them in batches.

  • Global mask: The mask applies to all images.

Eraser Tool

Mask Eraser Tool

The Mask Eraser Tool can be used to erase the masks.

Polygon Mask Eraser Tool

  1. Click the Polygon Mask Eraser Tool icon tools introduction polygon mask eraser icon (or press Ctrl+Alt+P on the keyboard).

  2. Click the first position (vertex) in the selection area, then click other positions, and finally right-click to complete the drawing to erase the masks within the polygon area.

Brush Mask Eraser Tool

  1. Right-click the Polygon Mask Eraser Tool icon tools introduction polygon mask eraser icon, then select the Brush Mask Eraser Tool icon tools introduction brush mask eraser icon (or press Ctrl+Alt+B on the keyboard).

  2. Press and hold the left mouse button in the selection area and drag in any direction to erase the masks along the drag path. You can set the Brush shape to Round or Square and adjust the brush size using the slider.

Lasso Mask Eraser Tool

  1. Right-click the Polygon Mask Eraser Tool icon tools introduction polygon mask eraser icon, then select the Lasso Mask Eraser Tool icon tools introduction lasso mask eraser icon (or press Ctrl+Alt+N on the keyboard).

  2. Press and hold the left mouse button in the selection area and drag in any direction until the path forms a closed shape, then release the button to erase the masks within the enclosed area.

For modules that support Single image mask and Global mask, the Mask Eraser Tool can only erase masks drawn in the current mask mode. To batch clear single image masks, select one or more images in the image list, then right-click and select Clear Single Image Mask(s).

ROI Tool

You can use the ROI Tool to set the region of interest.

Setting the ROI can avoid interferences from the background.

  1. Click the ROI Tool icon tools introduction roi icon (or press O on the keyboard).

  2. Adjust the ROI frame in the selection region.

  3. Click the application icon tools introduction OK in the lower-right corner of the ROI to apply the current ROI or click the close icon tools introduction cancel to disable the ROI Tool.

  4. Click the Reset button in the upper left corner of the image to reset the ROI.

Select Tool

You can use the Select Tool to zoom, select, move, resize, rotate, etc.:

  1. In the labeling toolbar, click the Select Tool icon tools introduction select icon (or press F on the keyboard).

  2. You can perform operations such as scaling, selecting, moving, and roughly adjusting labels:

    • Place the cursor in the selection area of the image and use the mouse wheel to scroll forward to zoom in and scroll backward to zoom out.

    • Move the cursor in the selection region and then click the selections to be processed. Select multiple selections by pressing and holding the Ctrl key.

    • Right-click and drag in the selection area to select all labels within the selected area.

      Adjust size

      tools introduction select1

      Rotation

      tools introduction select2

      Move

      tools introduction select3

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