Face transformation

This document introduces the face transformation function based on a USB camera and its usage method. This function implements face effect processing through cloud interfaces and provides a graphical interactive interface to help users quickly deploy and verify effects. After completing environment preparation, dependency installation, and parameter configuration, you can run the project on the Quectel Pi H1 smart single-board computer to reproduce the face transformation effect and output the results.

Core Supported Functions:

• Face Age Transformation: Generate face effects of different age stages and synthesize videos for playback;
• Portrait Anime Stylization: Convert portraits into anime-style images;
• Face Gender Conversion: Generate gender conversion results for a single face in the form of a full image.

In addition, the project supports automatic identification and activation of camera devices, and outputs running status and log information, making it easy for users to monitor task progress and troubleshoot problems.

Development Resource Summary

Development Component List

Component Physical Reference

Quick Start

Development Preparation

The Quectel Pi H1 smart single-board computer is pre-installed with the Debian 13 system image, eliminating the need for re-burning. You only need to complete the following steps to start development.

Hardware Connections

Cooling Fan Installation

Insert the cable of the cooling fan into the FAN slot of the Quectel Pi H1 smart single-board computer, then fix the two ends of the cooler to the reserved mounting holes on the main control board. The schematic diagram is as follows:

Camera Connection

Connect the USB camera directly to the USB-A interface of the Quectel Pi H1 smart single-board computer.

Display Connection

Connect one end of the HDMI cable to the HDMI interface of the Quectel Pi H1 smart single-board computer, and the other end to the HDMI interface of the monitor.

Network Connection

Connect one end of the network cable to the Gigabit Ethernet port of the Quectel Pi H1 smart single-board computer, and the other end to the Ethernet port of a networked router to ensure the device can access the network.

Power Supply Connection

Connect the USB-A end of the USB-C power cable to the power adapter, and the USB-C end to the power interface marked "POWER IN" on the Quectel Pi H1 smart single-board computer.

Reference for Completed Connection

After all hardware connections are completed, refer to the schematic diagram below:

Project Implementation

Update Software Sources

Execute the following command to update the system software sources:

sudo apt update

Install System Dependencies

Install basic dependency packages:

sudo apt install -y python3 python3-venv python3-pip ffmpeg git vim

Install dependencies related to the graphical interface:

sudo apt install -y libxcb-cursor0 libxkbcommon-x11-0 \
  libxcb-xinerama0 libxcb-icccm4 libxcb-image0 libxcb-keysyms1 libxcb-render-util0

Create a Virtual Environment

Create a new project directory:

mkdir -p ~/Project

Enter the project directory and create a Python virtual environment:

cd ~/Project
python3 -m venv .venv

Activate the Virtual Environment

source ~/Project/.venv/bin/activate

Download Sample Code

cd ~/Project
git clone https://github.com/Quectel-Pi/demo-face-transform.git

Update pip Source

pip install --upgrade pip

Install Project Dependencies

pip install -r requirements.txt

Note: Ensure you are in the virtual environment and execute this command in the demo-face-transform directory (adjust the path of requirements.txt if the path does not match).

Configure Secret Keys

To use the face transformation service, you need to activate the relevant Tencent Cloud services first and obtain API call secret keys (SecretId and SecretKey). Acquisition path: Tencent Cloud Access Management Console.

Reference document:Tencent Cloud Portrait Transformation API Document

Method 1: Read secret keys through environment variables (example):

export TENCENTCLOUD_SECRET_ID="SecretId"
export TENCENTCLOUD_SECRET_KEY="SecretKey"

Method 2: Configure through the startup script

Edit the start.sh script and fill in the SecretId and SecretKey:

Run the Program

Configure the SecretId and SecretKey in start.sh first

cd demo-face-transform/src
chmod +x start.sh
./start.sh

Graphical Interface Remote Running Configuration

To enable SSH remote sessions to run local graphical interface programs normally, complete the following configurations:

1.Execute the permission configuration command in the local desktop terminal of the device

xhost +SI:localuser:pi

This command allows the local pi user to access the current X11 display service.

2.Set graphical display environment variables in the SSH remote session

export DISPLAY=:0
export XAUTHORITY=/home/pi/.Xauthority

After configuration, you can run programs that require a graphical interface in the SSH session.