# Image classification and display with Neural Processing SDK
Source: [https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-70018-50/topic/single-camera-stream-with-image-classification-and-display-with-mobilenet-v1.html](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-70018-50/topic/single-camera-stream-with-image-classification-and-display-with-mobilenet-v1.html)
The use cases use an Inceptionv3 model with Qualcomm Neural Processing SDK to
classify scenes, either overlay or compose the classification labels, and then display the
results.
You can use any publicly available classification model with TensorFlow and convert it to
the `.dlc` format as described in [TensorFlow Model Conversion](https://docs.qualcomm.com/bundle/publicresource/topics/80-63442-2/model_conv_tensorflow.html).
## Use qtivoverlay plugin to apply classification overlay
Run the use
case:
gst-launch-1.0 -e --gst-debug=2 \
qtiqmmfsrc name=camsrc ! video/x-raw,format=NV12_Q08C,width=1280,height=720,framerate=30/1 ! queue ! tee name=split \
split. ! queue ! qtimetamux name=metamux ! queue ! qtivoverlay ! queue ! waylandsink fullscreen=true sync=false \
split. ! queue ! qtimlvconverter ! queue ! qtimlsnpe delegate=dsp model=/etc/models/inceptionv3.dlc ! queue ! \
qtimlvclassification threshold=40.0 results=2 module=mobilenet labels=/etc/labels/classification.labels ! text/x-raw ! queue ! metamux.Copy to clipboard
To stop the use case, use CTRL + C.
Figure : Pipeline for classification overlay

The figure shows the flow of the use case execution:
- Classify scenes from a video stream coming through a camera source.
- Overlay classification labels using overlaylib.
- Display the results on a local display.
The table provides the sequential processing stages of the pipeline execution:
| Process | Description |
| --- | --- |
| [qtiqmmfsrc](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-70018-50/topic/qtiqmmfsrc.html) |
- Collects the video stream (source) and creates two copies of
the source:
- One stream is sent to qtimetamux plugin to retain
the video stream.
- The other stream is sent to an ML inferencing
pipeline.
|
| **Preprocessing** | **Preprocessing** |
| [qtimlvconverter](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-70018-50/topic/qtimlvconverter.html) |
- Receives the video stream on its sink pad.
- Performs preprocessing:
- Color conversion
- Scaling down/up
- Normalization on the stream data when the model
expects the floating point values as input
- Converts the video stream to a tensor stream on its source
pad.The classification model uses this tensor stream
for inferencing.
|
| **Inferencing** | **Inferencing** |
| [qtimlsnpe](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-70018-50/topic/qtimlsnpe.html) |
- Loads the model.
- Modifies the graph for the chosen delegate.
- Receives the tensor stream on its sinkpad.
- Runs the inference and produces a tensor stream with the
inference results on its source pad.
|
| **Postprocessing** | **Postprocessing** |
| [qtimlvclassification](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-70018-50/topic/qtimlvclassification.html) |
- Receives the inference tensors from the model on its
sinkpad.
- Converts the tensors into formats such as video or text that
the multimedia plugins can process later.
- Applies the threshold to the chosen number of results.
- Loads the corresponding modules of the classification
models. In this use case, qtimlvclassification does the
following:
- Loads the submodule of the model.
- Produces results as structures of text.
- Sends them to the sinkpad of qtimetamux.
|
| [qtimetamux](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-70018-50/topic/qtimetamux.html) |
- Receives the video stream and text stream with
classification results corresponding to the video stream on
its sinkpads.
- Produces GST buffers with the contents of video stream on
its sink pad.
- Adds classification result from data sinkpad to GST buffer
meta (meta muxing) on its source pad.
|
| [qtivoverlay](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-70018-50/topic/qtioverlay.html) |
- Receives the multiplexed stream.
- Overlays the classification labels on the VideoFrame using
CL.
- Produces GST buffers with overlays in its source pad.
|
| **Output** | **Output** |
| [Waylandsink](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-70018-50/topic/waylandsink.html) |
- Receives the video stream on its sinkpad.
- Submits the video stream to Weston.
- Weston renders the video stream and possible classifications
generated for that scene on a local display device.
|
## Use qtivcomposer to mix original frame with classification mask
Run the use case:
gst-launch-1.0 -e --gst-debug=2 qtiqmmfsrc name=camsrc ! video/x-raw,format=NV12_Q08C,width=1280,height=720,framerate=30/1 ! queue ! \
tee name=split split. ! queue ! qtivcomposer name=mixer sink_1::position="<30, 30>" sink_1::dimensions="<320, 320>" ! queue ! waylandsink fullscreen=true \
split. ! queue ! qtimlvconverter ! queue ! qtimlsnpe delegate=dsp model=/etc/models/inceptionv3.dlc ! queue ! \
qtimlvclassification threshold=40.0 results=2 module=mobilenet labels=/etc/labels/classification.labels ! video/x-raw,format=BGRA,width=640,height=360 ! queue ! mixer.Copy to clipboard
To stop the use case, use CTRL + C.
Figure : Pipeline for classification using qtivcomposer

The figure shows the flow of the use case execution:
- Classify scenes from a video stream coming through a camera source.
- Compose classification labels and video stream together using
qtivcomposer.
- Display the results to a local display.
The table provides the sequential processing stages of the pipeline execution:
| Process | Description |
| --- | --- |
| [qtiqmmfsrc](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-70018-50/topic/qtiqmmfsrc.html) |
- Collects the video stream (source) and creates two copies of
the source:
- One stream is sent to the qtivcomposer plugin to
retain the video stream.
- The other stream is sent to the ML inferencing
branch in the pipeline.
|
| **Preprocessing** | **Preprocessing** |
| [qtimlvconverter](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-70018-50/topic/qtimlvconverter.html) |
- Receives the video stream on its sink pad.
- Performs preprocessing:
- Color conversion
- Scaling down/up
- Normalization on the stream data when a model
expects the floating point values as input
- Converts the video stream to a tensor stream on its source
pad.The classification model uses this tensor stream
for inferencing.
|
| **Inferencing** | **Inferencing** |
| [qtimlsnpe](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-70018-50/topic/qtimlsnpe.html) |
- Loads the model.
- Modifies the graph for the chosen delegate.
- Receives the tensor stream on its sinkpad.
- Runs the inference and produces a tensor stream with the
inference results on its source pad.
|
| **Postprocessing** | **Postprocessing** |
| [qtimlvclassification](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-70018-50/topic/qtimlvclassification.html) |
- Receives the inference results from the model on its
sinkpad.
- Converts the inference tensors into formats like video or
text that the multimedia plugins can process later.
- Applies the threshold to the chosen number of results.
- Loads the corresponding modules for the classification
models. In this use case, qtimlvclassification does the
following:
- Loads the submodule of the model.
- Produces results as video frames with classification
labels.
- Sends them to the sinkpad of qtivcomposer.
|
| [qtivcomposer](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-70018-50/topic/qtivcomposer.html) |
- Receives the original video stream with classification
results on its sinkpads.
- On its sourcepad, produces GST buffers with contents
composed of video streams from its sinkpads.
|
| **Output** | **Output** |
| [Waylandsink](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-70018-50/topic/waylandsink.html) |
- Receives the video in its sinkpad
- Submits the video stream to Weston.
- Weston renders the video stream and possible classifications
generated for that scene on a local display device.
|
**Parent Topic:** [Qualcomm Neural Processing SDK use cases](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-70018-50/topic/qualcomm-neural-processing-sdk-use-cases.html)
Last Published: Jan 30, 2026
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