[Python] Why do I get an error when trying to create a canvas image with tkinter even though I...

I am trying to create an image for my tkinter canvas. The image path is fine, the PhotoImage object gets created without issue but when I try to create the canvas image using the PhotoImage object, an exception is raised. I have the PhotoImage() stored as an attribute of the class. I have also tried saving the image to a global list to prevent garbage collection, but neither work.

If I run this test code, everything works fine and the canvas image is created:

import tkinter as tk
from tkinter import PhotoImage

root = tk.Tk()
canvas = tk.Canvas(root, width=800, height=600)
canvas.pack()

image_path = "images/card_front2.png"
try:
pic = PhotoImage(file=image_path)
canvas.create_image(415, 265, image=pic)
except Exception as e:
print(f"Error loading image: {e}")

root.mainloop()


But now I am creating tkinter class objects within my own classes to create a flashcard app. Here is the relevant portion of my class to create the canvas setup that will be rooted to the reference_window. The focus is on the final 4 lines.

class CanvasSetup:
dutch_word = ""
eng_word = ""
counter = 1

def __init__(self, window_ref, data, lang, colour_light, colour_dark, colour_neutral):
##### Define inputs #####
self.window_ref = window_ref
self.data = data
self.my_lang = lang
self.colour_light = colour_light
self.colour_dark = colour_dark
self.colour_neutral = colour_neutral

##### Get image for English canvas #####
self.eng_pic = PhotoImage(file="card_back2.png")
self.non_eng_pic = None # Initially set to None


##### Get number list for length of data inputted #####
self.number_list = [num for num in range(len(self.data["ENG"].keys()))]

##### Create canvas #####
## Get image for other lang canvas ##
if self.my_lang == "Dutch":
self.non_eng_pic = PhotoImage(file="card_front2.png")
else:
self.non_eng_pic = PhotoImage(file="card_front2.png")
self.canvas = Canvas(self.window_ref, width=800, height=500, highlightthickness=0, bg=self.colour_light)
self.canvas.grid(column=0, row=0, columnspan=3)
print(f"non_eng_pic: {self.non_eng_pic}")
self.canvas_img = self.canvas.create_image(415, 265, image=self.non_eng_pic)
print(f"non_eng_pic###########: {self.non_eng_pic}")


This get's printed: non_eng_pic: pyimage

And then this error is shown:

Exception in Tkinter callback
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "C:\Python312\Lib\tkinter\__init__.py", line 1967, in __call__
return self.func(*args)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
File "C:\Users\gabri\OneDrive\Documents\Work\Udemy\100 Days of Python\OOP\Day 31.3 - Improved FlashCard\main.py", line 172, in <lambda>
main_window = MyMenu(starter_image, lambda: start_flashcards(language, learning_type, vocab))
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
File "C:\Users\gabri\OneDrive\Documents\Work\Udemy\100 Days of Python\OOP\Day 31.3 - Improved FlashCard\main.py", line 107, in start_flashcards
flashcard_canvas = CanvasSetup(flash_window.window, data_dict, language,
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
File "C:\Users\gabri\OneDrive\Documents\Work\Udemy\100 Days of Python\OOP\Day 31.3 - Improved FlashCard\flashcard.py", line 56, in __init__
self.canvas_img = self.canvas.create_image(415, 265, image=self.non_eng_pic)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
File "C:\Python312\Lib\tkinter\__init__.py", line 2864, in create_image
return self._create('image', args, kw)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
File "C:\Python312\Lib\tkinter\__init__.py", line 2850, in _create
return self.tk.getint(self.tk.call(
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
_tkinter.TclError: image "pyimage3" doesn't exist


I have tried everything I can think of and searched for answers but nothing gets rid of this error. Please help.

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