Convert annotation formats

How To Convert IBM Cloud Annotations JSON to YOLOv5 PyTorch TXT

In this guide, we show you how to convert data between the Cloud Annotations and YOLOv5 formats for free. You can use your converted data to train YOLO-NAS models and other models that support the YOLOv5 format.

Convert with an AI agent

Paste this prompt into your coding agent

Claude Code, Cursor, Codex or any agent with the Roboflow MCP uploads your IBM Cloud Annotations JSON dataset to Roboflow, generates a version and downloads it as YOLOv5 PyTorch TXT.

No Roboflow MCP yet? The prompt has your agent set it up first, or connect your agent before you paste it.

Rather convert it by hand? Follow the steps below

IBM Cloud Annotations JSON

The native JSON format of IBM's open source Cloud Annotations labeling tool.

Below, learn the structure of IBM Cloud Annotations JSON.

_annotations.jsonJSON
{
    "version": "1.0",
    "type": "localization",
    "labels": ["Untitled Label", "White Rook", "White Pawn", "White Knight", "White Queen", "White King", "White Bishop", "Black Bishop", "Black Pawn", "Black King", "Black Queen", "Black Knight", "Black Rook"],
    "annotations": {
        "85f760d0-c1b6-4ff4-a7f9-88ee6654a355.jpg": [{
            "x": 0.8056980180806675,
            "y": 0.6729166666666667,
            "x2": 0.8752390472878998,
            "y2": 0.8041666666666667,
            "id": "b523453f-d2bb-4ef1-88bb-1f18cba207c4",
            "label": "Black Rook"
        }, {
            "x": 0.5998565716272601,
            "y": 0.45625,
            "x2": 0.6457536509040334,
            "y2": 0.5604166666666667,
            "id": "78a44284-3b3b-4102-984e-6d4611b12f49",
            "label": "Black Pawn"
        }, {
            "x": 0.5650860570236439,
            "y": 0.014583333333333334,
            "x2": 0.6109831363004172,
            "y2": 0.11666666666666667,
            "id": "85eb97d7-5563-4abb-8f4a-fab28c8084ab",
            "label": "Black Rook"
        }, {
            "x": 0.5650860570236439,
            "y": 0.07083333333333333,
            "x2": 0.6123739568845619,
            "y2": 0.19583333333333333,
            "id": "047fd30e-4a20-43e5-a794-202a0ff58ea9",
            "label": "Black Knight"
        }, {
            "x": 0.5692585187760779,
            "y": 0.21666666666666667,
            "x2": 0.6262821627260083,
            "y2": 0.3770833333333333,
            "id": "7632a8cf-1b05-464e-9046-8fab323114c9",
            "label": "Black Queen"
        }, {
            "x": 0.7500651947148818,
            "y": 0.27708333333333335,
            "x2": 0.8265603268428373,
            "y2": 0.4625,
            "id": "f0a4900c-00fa-491f-81e0-05704cd2a2b5",
            "label": "Black King"
        }, {
            "x": 0.674960883171071,
            "y": 0.35833333333333334,
            "x2": 0.7194671418636995,
            "y2": 0.45416666666666666,
            "id": "f9f86e60-cb6e-4eff-a489-4e512e8eede3",
            "label": "Black Pawn"
        }, {
            "x": 0.6540985744089013,
            "y": 0.18541666666666667,
            "x2": 0.6958231919332406,
            "y2": 0.275,
            "id": "fc991b17-43a7-4006-bfdd-5d80447544fa",
            "label": "Black Pawn"
        }, {
            "x": 0.6443628303198887,
            "y": 0.1,
            "x2": 0.6846966272600834,
            "y2": 0.1875,
            "id": "239bf0e7-66e2-4b52-9d7a-fc916c58021d",
            "label": "Black Pawn"
        }, {
            "x": 0.4969358484005563,
            "y": 0.25416666666666665,
            "x2": 0.5386604659248957,
            "y2": 0.34791666666666665,
            "id": "55c28313-b3e8-41de-b57a-194fa97e0612",
            "label": "Black Pawn"
        }, {
            "x": 0.5024991307371349,
            "y": 0.020833333333333332,
            "x2": 0.5400512865090403,
            "y2": 0.1125,
            "id": "1ef39a86-a6b4-4427-bcbc-2fae75e23521",
            "label": "Black Pawn"
        }, {
            "x": 0.6193280598052852,
            "y": 0.96875,
            "x2": 0.6610526773296245,
            "y2": 1,
            "id": "4d9954e1-8461-4d11-829e-d1a213b4ddf0",
            "label": "Black Bishop"
        }, {
            "x": 0.7194671418636995,
            "y": 0.9145833333333333,
            "x2": 0.7848357093184979,
            "y2": 1,
            "id": "aba90884-eeaf-436b-b2de-6b858f89807d",
            "label": "Black Bishop"
        }, {
            "x": 0.6304546244784422,
            "y": 0.8916666666666667,
            "x2": 0.6833058066759388,
            "y2": 0.9875,
            "id": "a30ea559-e42d-4b21-8d57-439e984bf114",
            "label": "Black Pawn"
        }, {
            "x": 0.4148774339360223,
            "y": 0.32708333333333334,
            "x2": 0.46633779554937416,
            "y2": 0.4625,
            "id": "b1d3772c-d1d1-4178-bf51-7a7e7c78d924",
            "label": "Black Bishop"
        }, {
            "x": 0.4134866133518776,
            "y": 0.5375,
            "x2": 0.46911943671766343,
            "y2": 0.6708333333333333,
            "id": "9f01f922-7557-4106-8db3-1856a97846d0",
            "label": "White Bishop"
        }, {
            "x": 0.14505824061196107,
            "y": 0.2708333333333333,
            "x2": 0.2048635257301808,
            "y2": 0.4625,
            "id": "6860aeaa-3441-45ce-b66d-382e88a065cb",
            "label": "White King"
        }, {
            "x": 0.3328190194714882,
            "y": 0.2125,
            "x2": 0.3912334840055633,
            "y2": 0.3770833333333333,
            "id": "d08bb2a8-096b-438f-8d95-57b9689b0204",
            "label": "White Queen"
        }, {
            "x": 0.3425547635605007,
            "y": 0.1375,
            "x2": 0.38845184283727396,
            "y2": 0.25625,
            "id": "2a1697e9-1d68-476f-b800-390b22e7be28",
            "label": "White Knight"
        }, {
            "x": 0.13949495827538247,
            "y": 0.5375,
            "x2": 0.19790942280945759,
            "y2": 0.6729166666666667,
            "id": "2c12a431-16af-4926-a1f6-26c7bee53d98",
            "label": "White Knight"
        }, {
            "x": 0.2382432197496523,
            "y": 0.5666666666666667,
            "x2": 0.28831276077885953,
            "y2": 0.675,
            "id": "fa77179b-1818-4474-8f59-18967715d456",
            "label": "White Pawn"
        }, {
            "x": 0.2660596314325452,
            "y": 0.17083333333333334,
            "x2": 0.3091750695410292,
            "y2": 0.26875,
            "id": "c24db7e9-1571-4e55-8dca-7e33a7a428cc",
            "label": "White Pawn"
        }, {
            "x": 0.2660596314325452,
            "y": 0.0125,
            "x2": 0.30222096662030595,
            "y2": 0.10625,
            "id": "b2da76ae-cccc-4189-853a-6d75a6cd0b36",
            "label": "White Pawn"
        }, {
            "x": 0.41765907510431155,
            "y": 0.25833333333333336,
            "x2": 0.4566020514603616,
            "y2": 0.35208333333333336,
            "id": "1583f0df-81da-46e6-b3cb-aa78595026fc",
            "label": "White Pawn"
        }, {
            "x": 0.4246131780250348,
            "y": 0.6854166666666667,
            "x2": 0.47329189847009734,
            "y2": 0.7895833333333333,
            "id": "dd873720-24b8-4795-90ba-382e17ea2182",
            "label": "White Pawn"
        }, {
            "x": 0.22711665507649514,
            "y": 0.6770833333333334,
            "x2": 0.28553111961057026,
            "y2": 0.80625,
            "id": "1323aa31-5729-48e8-95cb-c5ce8f01aa03",
            "label": "White Rook"
        }, {
            "x": 0.18817367872044508,
            "y": 0.0020833333333333333,
            "x2": 0.23267993741307372,
            "y2": 0.10416666666666667,
            "id": "6ae756ee-6b8f-4110-ab46-56da13083ae5",
            "label": "White Rook"
        }],
        "238b26b3-40b1-47e1-9fb2-d5b609063b48.jpg": [{
            "x": 0.5094532336578581,
            "y": 0.47708333333333336,
            "x2": 0.5623044158553546,
            "y2": 0.6083333333333333,
            "id": "3bc9e7ea-1ba5-4525-96a5-6b38e2c13d1f",
            "label": "White Bishop"
        }]
    }
}

YOLOv5 PyTorch TXT

A modified version of YOLO Darknet annotations that adds a YAML file for model config.

Below, learn the structure of YOLOv5 PyTorch TXT.

Each image has one txt file with a single line for each bounding box. The format of each row is

class_id center_x center_y width height

where fields are space delimited, and the coordinates are normalized from zero to one.

Note: To convert to normalized xywh from pixel values, divide x (and width) by the image's width and divide y (and height) by the image's height.

001.txt
1 0.617 0.3594420600858369 0.114 0.17381974248927037
1 0.094 0.38626609442060084 0.156 0.23605150214592274
1 0.295 0.3959227467811159 0.13 0.19527896995708155
1 0.785 0.398068669527897 0.07 0.14377682403433475
1 0.886 0.40879828326180256 0.124 0.18240343347639484
1 0.723 0.398068669527897 0.102 0.1609442060085837
1 0.541 0.35085836909871243 0.094 0.16952789699570817
1 0.428 0.4334763948497854 0.068 0.1072961373390558
1 0.375 0.40236051502145925 0.054 0.1351931330472103
1 0.976 0.3927038626609442 0.044 0.17167381974248927

The `data.yaml` file contains configuration values used by the model to locate images and map class names to class_id's.

data.yaml
train: ../train/images
val: ../valid/images

nc: 3
names: ['head', 'helmet', 'person']

Step 1: Create a free Roboflow account

Roboflow is a universal conversion tool for computer vision annotation formats. To convert your dataset, start by creating a free Roboflow account.

Create free Roboflow account

Step 2: Upload your data into Roboflow

Once your account has been created, click Create New Project. (opens in a new tab)

Roboflow's create project form, with Object Detection selected as the project type

Upload your data to Roboflow by dragging and dropping your IBM Cloud Annotations JSON images and annotations into the upload space.

Roboflow's upload page, with a drag-and-drop area for images, annotations, videos and PDFs

Step 3: Generate Dataset Version

Next, click "Generate New Version" to generate a new version of your dataset:

Roboflow's Generate a Dataset Version page, showing the source images and train/test split for a new version

You can then apply any preprocessing or augmentation steps to your dataset:

The augmentation step of a new dataset version, with 90° Rotate and Brightness added

Step 4: Export Dataset Version

After generating, you will be prompted to Export your dataset. You can choose to receive your dataset as a .zip file or a curl download link. Choose YOLOv5 PyTorch TXT when asked in what format you want to export your data. You will see a dropdown with various options like this:

Roboflow's Download dialog, with the export format list open and COCO highlighted

Congratulations, you have successfully converted your dataset from IBM Cloud Annotations JSON format to YOLOv5 PyTorch TXT format!

Video Tutorial

Convert Computer Vision Annotation Formats Tutorial

Want to dive deeper into converting annotation formats with Roboflow? In the tutorial below, we explore how to convert your data in the Roboflow dashboard. We also discuss rejecting annotations and train-test-validation splits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes! It is free to convert IBM Cloud Annotations JSON data into the YOLOv5 PyTorch TXT format on the Roboflow platform.

If you have between a few and a few thousand images, converting data between these formats will be quick. But, the time it takes to convert between data formats increases with the more images you have.

Show guide

Convert IBM Cloud Annotations JSON to other formats

Convert other formats to YOLOv5 PyTorch TXT

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