numpy: unpack array along an axis

Question

Say that I have a RGB image:

from skimage import data
img = data.astronaut()
print(img.shape)  # (512, 512, 3)

Is there a succinct numpy command to unpack it along the color channels:

R, G, B = np.unpack(img, 2)  # ?

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What I am doing is using comprehension:

R, G, B = (img[:, :, i] for i in range(3))

But is there no simpler command?

Answer 1

Alternatively you can use np.rollaxis -

R,G,B = np.rollaxis(img,2)