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ImageNette Dataset

The ImageNette dataset is a subset of the larger Imagenet dataset, but it only includes 10 easily distinguishable classes. It was created to provide a quicker, easier-to-use version of Imagenet for software development and education.

Key Features

  • ImageNette contains images from 10 different classes such as tench, English springer, cassette player, chain saw, church, French horn, garbage truck, gas pump, golf ball, parachute.
  • The dataset comprises colored images of varying dimensions.
  • ImageNette is widely used for training and testing in the field of machine learning, especially for image classification tasks.

Dataset Structure

The ImageNette dataset is split into two subsets:

  1. Training Set: This subset contains several thousands of images used for training machine learning models. The exact number varies per class.
  2. Validation Set: This subset consists of several hundreds of images used for validating and benchmarking the trained models. Again, the exact number varies per class.

Applications

The ImageNette dataset is widely used for training and evaluating deep learning models in image classification tasks, such as Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), and various other machine learning algorithms. The dataset's straightforward format and well-chosen classes make it a handy resource for both beginner and experienced practitioners in the field of machine learning and computer vision.

Usage

To train a model on the ImageNette dataset for 100 epochs with a standard image size of 224x224, you can use the following code snippets. For a comprehensive list of available arguments, refer to the model Training page.

Train Example

from ultralytics import YOLO

# Load a model
model = YOLO("yolov8n-cls.pt")  # load a pretrained model (recommended for training)

# Train the model
results = model.train(data="imagenette", epochs=100, imgsz=224)
# Start training from a pretrained *.pt model
yolo detect train data=imagenette model=yolov8n-cls.pt epochs=100 imgsz=224

Sample Images and Annotations

The ImageNette dataset contains colored images of various objects and scenes, providing a diverse dataset for image classification tasks. Here are some examples of images from the dataset:

Dataset sample image

The example showcases the variety and complexity of the images in the ImageNette dataset, highlighting the importance of a diverse dataset for training robust image classification models.

ImageNette160 and ImageNette320

For faster prototyping and training, the ImageNette dataset is also available in two reduced sizes: ImageNette160 and ImageNette320. These datasets maintain the same classes and structure as the full ImageNette dataset, but the images are resized to a smaller dimension. As such, these versions of the dataset are particularly useful for preliminary model testing, or when computational resources are limited.

To use these datasets, simply replace 'imagenette' with 'imagenette160' or 'imagenette320' in the training command. The following code snippets illustrate this:

Train Example with ImageNette160

from ultralytics import YOLO

# Load a model
model = YOLO("yolov8n-cls.pt")  # load a pretrained model (recommended for training)

# Train the model with ImageNette160
results = model.train(data="imagenette160", epochs=100, imgsz=160)
# Start training from a pretrained *.pt model with ImageNette160
yolo detect train data=imagenette160 model=yolov8n-cls.pt epochs=100 imgsz=160

Train Example with ImageNette320

from ultralytics import YOLO

# Load a model
model = YOLO("yolov8n-cls.pt")  # load a pretrained model (recommended for training)

# Train the model with ImageNette320
results = model.train(data="imagenette320", epochs=100, imgsz=320)
# Start training from a pretrained *.pt model with ImageNette320
yolo detect train data=imagenette320 model=yolov8n-cls.pt epochs=100 imgsz=320

These smaller versions of the dataset allow for rapid iterations during the development process while still providing valuable and realistic image classification tasks.

Citations and Acknowledgments

If you use the ImageNette dataset in your research or development work, please acknowledge it appropriately. For more information about the ImageNette dataset, visit the ImageNette dataset GitHub page.

FAQ

What is the ImageNette dataset?

The ImageNette dataset is a simplified subset of the larger ImageNet dataset, featuring only 10 easily distinguishable classes such as tench, English springer, and French horn. It was created to offer a more manageable dataset for efficient training and evaluation of image classification models. This dataset is particularly useful for quick software development and educational purposes in machine learning and computer vision.

How can I use the ImageNette dataset for training a YOLO model?

To train a YOLO model on the ImageNette dataset for 100 epochs, you can use the following commands. Make sure to have the Ultralytics YOLO environment set up.

Train Example

from ultralytics import YOLO

# Load a model
model = YOLO("yolov8n-cls.pt")  # load a pretrained model (recommended for training)

# Train the model
results = model.train(data="imagenette", epochs=100, imgsz=224)
# Start training from a pretrained *.pt model
yolo detect train data=imagenette model=yolov8n-cls.pt epochs=100 imgsz=224

For more details, see the Training documentation page.

Why should I use ImageNette for image classification tasks?

The ImageNette dataset is advantageous for several reasons:

  • Quick and Simple: It contains only 10 classes, making it less complex and time-consuming compared to larger datasets.
  • Educational Use: Ideal for learning and teaching the basics of image classification since it requires less computational power and time.
  • Versatility: Widely used to train and benchmark various machine learning models, especially in image classification.

For more details on model training and dataset management, explore the Dataset Structure section.

Can the ImageNette dataset be used with different image sizes?

Yes, the ImageNette dataset is also available in two resized versions: ImageNette160 and ImageNette320. These versions help in faster prototyping and are especially useful when computational resources are limited.

Train Example with ImageNette160

from ultralytics import YOLO

# Load a model
model = YOLO("yolov8n-cls.pt")

# Train the model with ImageNette160
results = model.train(data="imagenette160", epochs=100, imgsz=160)
# Start training from a pretrained *.pt model with ImageNette160
yolo detect train data=imagenette160 model=yolov8n-cls.pt epochs=100 imgsz=160

For more information, refer to Training with ImageNette160 and ImageNette320.

What are some practical applications of the ImageNette dataset?

The ImageNette dataset is extensively used in:

  • Educational Settings: To educate beginners in machine learning and computer vision.
  • Software Development: For rapid prototyping and development of image classification models.
  • Deep Learning Research: To evaluate and benchmark the performance of various deep learning models, especially Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs).

Explore the Applications section for detailed use cases.



Created 2023-11-12, Updated 2024-07-04
Authors: glenn-jocher (6)

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