## Introducing Image Formats

ImageMagick uses an ASCII string known as magick (e.g. `GIF`) to identify file formats, algorithms acting as formats, built-in patterns, and embedded profile types.

Support for some of the formats are delegated to libraries or external programs. The Installation Guide describes where to find these distributions and any special configuration options required.

To get a complete listing of which image formats are supported on your system, type

       identify -list format

On some platforms, ImageMagick automatically processes these extensions: .gz for Zip compression, .Z for Unix compression, .bz2 for block compression, and .pgp for PGP encryption. For example, a PNM image called image.pnm.gz is automatically uncompressed.

## Supported Image Formats

ImageMagick supports reading over 90 major file formats (not including sub-formats). The following table provides a summary of the supported image formats.

Tag | Mode | Description | Notes
--- | --- | --- | ---
ART | R | PFS: 1st Publisher | Format originally used on the Macintosh (MacPaint?) and later used for PFS: 1st Publisher clip art.
AVI | R | Microsoft Audio/Visual Interleaved |
AVS | RW | AVS X image |
BMP | RW | Microsoft Windows bitmap |
CGM | R | Computer Graphics Metafile | Requires ralcgm to render CGM files.
CIN | RW | Kodak Cineon Image Format | Use -set to specify the image gamma or black and white points (e.g. `-set gamma 1.7`, `-set reference-black 95`, `-set reference-white 685`).
CMYK | RW | Raw cyan, magenta, yellow, and black samples | Use -size and -depth to specify the image width, height, and depth. To specify a single precision floating-point format, use `-depth 32 -define quantum:format=floating-point`. Set the depth to 64 for a double precision floating-point format.
CMYKA | RW | Raw cyan, magenta, yellow, black, and alpha samples | Use -size and -depth to specify the image width, height, and depth. To specify a single precision floating-point format, use `-depth 32 -define quantum:format=floating-point`. Set the depth to 64 for a double precision floating-point format.
CUR | R | Microsoft Cursor Icon |
CUT | R | DR Halo |
DCM | R | Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) image | Used by the medical community for images like X-rays.
DCX | RW | ZSoft IBM PC multi-page Paintbrush image |
DIB | RW | Microsoft Windows Device Independent Bitmap | DIB is a BMP file without the BMP header. Used to support embedded images in compound formats like WMF.
DNG | R | Digital Negative |
DOT | R | Graph Visualization | Use -define to specify the layout engine (e.g. `-define dot:layout-engine=neato`).
DPX | RW | SMPTE Digital Moving Picture Exchange | Use -set to specify the image gamma or black and white points (e.g. `-set gamma 1.7`, `-set reference-black 95`, `-set reference-white 685`).
EMF | R | Microsoft Enhanced Metafile (32-bit) | Only available under Microsoft Windows.
EPDF | RW | Encapsulated Portable Document Format |
EPI | RW | Adobe Encapsulated PostScript Interchange format | Requires Ghostscript to read.
EPS | RW | Adobe Encapsulated PostScript | Requires Ghostscript to read.
EPS2 | W | Adobe Level II Encapsulated PostScript | Requires Ghostscript to read.
EPS3 | W | Adobe Level III Encapsulated PostScript | Requires Ghostscript to read.
EPSF | RW | Adobe Encapsulated PostScript | Requires Ghostscript to read.
EPSI | RW | Adobe Encapsulated PostScript Interchange format | Requires Ghostscript to read.
EPT | RW | Adobe Encapsulated PostScript Interchange format with TIFF preview | Requires Ghostscript to read.
FAX | RW | Group 3 TIFF | See TIFF format. Note that FAX machines use non-square pixels which are 1.5 times wider than they are tall but computer displays use square pixels so FAX images may appear to be narrow unless they are explicitly resized using a resize specification of `150x100%`.
FIG | R | FIG graphics format | Requires TransFig.
FITS | RW | Flexible Image Transport System |
FPX | RW | FlashPix Format | Requires FlashPix SDK.
GIF | RW | CompuServe Graphics Interchange Format | 8-bit RGB PseudoColor with up to 256 palette entires. Specify the format `GIF87` to write the older version 87a of the format. Use -transparent-color to specify the GIF transparent color (e.g. `-transparent-color wheat`).
GPLT | R | Gnuplot plot files | Requires gnuplot3.5.tar.Z or later.
GRAY | RW | Raw gray samples | Use -size and -depth to specify the image width, height, and depth. To specify a single precision floating-point format, use `-depth 32 -define quantum:format=floating-point`. Set the depth to 64 for a double precision floating-point format.
HPGL | R | HP-GL plotter language | Requires hp2xx-3.2.0.tar.gz
HTML | RW | Hypertext Markup Language with a client-side image map | Also known as `HTM`. Requires html2ps to read.
ICO | R | Microsoft icon | Also known as `ICON`.
INFO | W | Format and characteristics of the image |
JBIG | RW | Joint Bi-level Image experts Group file interchange format | Also known as `BIE` and `JBG`. Requires jbigkit-1.0.tar.gz.
JNG | RW | Multiple-image Network Graphics | JPEG in a PNG-style wrapper with transparency. Requires libjpeg and libpng-1.0.2 or later, libpng-1.2.5 or later recommended.
JP2 | RW | JPEG-2000 JP2 File Format Syntax | Requires jasper-1.600.0.zip
JPC | RW | JPEG-2000 Code Stream Syntax | Requires jasper-1.600.0.zip
JPEG | RW | Joint Photographic Experts Group JFIF format | Requires jpegsrc.v6b.tar.gz. By default we compute optimal Huffman coding tables. Use -define jpeg:optimize-coding=false to use the default Huffman tables.
MAN | R | Unix reference manual pages | Requires that GNU groff and Ghostcript are installed.
MAT | R | MATLAB image format |
MIFF | RW | Magick image file format | This format persists all image attributes known to ImageMagick. To specify a single precision floating-point format, use `-depth 32 -define quantum:format=floating-point`. Set the depth to 64 for a double precision floating-point format.
MONO | RW | Bi-level bitmap in least-significant-byte first order |
MNG | RW | Multiple-image Network Graphics | A PNG-like Image Format Supporting Multiple Images, Animation and Transparent JPEG. Requires libpng-1.0.2 or later, libpng-1.2.5 or later recommended.
MPEG | RW | Motion Picture Experts Group file interchange format (version 1) | Requires mpeg2vidcodec_v12.tar.gz.
M2V | RW | Motion Picture Experts Group file interchange format (version 2) | Requires mpeg2vidcodec_v12.tar.gz.

MPC

RW

Magick Persistent Cache image file format

The native in-memory ImageMagick uncompressed file format. This file format is identical to that used by ImageMagick to represent images in memory and is read by mapping the file directly into memory. The MPC format is not portable and is not suitable as an archive format. It is suitable as an intermediate format for high-performance image processing. The MPC format requires two files to support one image. Image attributes are written to a file with the extension `.mpc`, whereas, image pixels are written to a file with the extension `.cache`.

MSL | RW | Magick Scripting Language | MSL is the XML-based scripting language supported by the conjure utility.
MTV | RW | MTV Raytracing image format |
MVG | RW | Magick Vector Graphics. | The native ImageMagick vector metafile format. A text file containing vector drawing commands accepted by convert's -draw option.
OTB | RW | On-the-air Bitmap |
P7 | RW | Xv's Visual Schnauzer thumbnail format |
PALM | RW | Palm pixmap |
PAM | W | Common 2-dimensional bitmap format |
PBM | RW | Portable bitmap format (black and white) |
PCD | RW | Photo CD | The maximum resolution written is 768x512 pixels since larger images require huffman compression (which is not supported).
PCDS | RW | Photo CD | Decode with the sRGB color tables.
PCL | W | HP Page Control Language | For output to HP laser printers.
PCX | RW | ZSoft IBM PC Paintbrush file |
PDB | RW | Palm Database ImageViewer Format |
PDF | RW | Portable Document Format | Requires Ghostscript to read. By default, ImageMagick sets the page size to the MediaBox. Some PDF files, however, have a CropBox that is smaller than the MediaBox and may include white space, registration or cutting marks outside the CropBox. To force ImageMagick to use the CropBox rather than the MediaBox, use -define (e.g. `-define pdf:use-cropbox=true`).
PFA | R | Postscript Type 1 font (ASCII) | Opening as file returns a preview image.
PFB | R | Postscript Type 1 font (binary) | Opening as file returns a preview image.
PGM | RW | Portable graymap format (gray scale) |
PICON | RW | Personal Icon |
PICT | RW | Apple Macintosh QuickDraw/PICT file |
PIX | R | Alias/Wavefront RLE image format |
PNG | RW | Portable Network Graphics | Requires libpng-1.0.2 or later, libpng-1.2.5 or later recommended.

PNM

RW

Portable anymap

PNM is a family of formats supporting portable bitmaps (PBM) , graymaps (PGM), and pixmaps (PPM). There is no file format associated with pnm itself. If PNM is used as the output format specifier, then ImageMagick automatically selects the most appropriate format to represent the image. The default is to write the binary version of the formats. Use -compress none to write the ASCII version of the formats.

PPM | RW | Portable pixmap format (color) |
PS | RW | Adobe PostScript file | Requires Ghostscript to read.
PS2 | RW | Adobe Level II PostScript file | Requires Ghostscript to read.
PS3 | RW | Adobe Level III PostScript file | Requires Ghostscript to read.
PSD | RW | Adobe Photoshop bitmap file |
PTIF | RW | Pyramid encoded TIFF | Multi-resolution TIFF containing successively smaller versions of the image down to the size of an icon. The desired sub-image size may be specified when reading via the -size option.
PWP | R | Seattle File Works multi-image file |
RAD | R | Radiance image file | Requires that ra_ppm from the Radiance software package be installed.
RGB | RW | Raw red, green, and blue samples | Use -size and -depth to specify the image width, height, and depth. To specify a single precision floating-point format, use `-depth 32 -define quantum:format=floating-point`. Set the depth to 64 for a double precision floating-point format.
RGBA | RW | Raw red, green, blue, and alpha samples | Use -size and -depth to specify the image width, height, and depth. To specify a single precision floating-point format, use `-depth 32 -define quantum:format=floating-point`. Set the depth to 64 for a double precision floating-point format.
RLA | R | Alias/Wavefront image file |
RLE | R | Utah Run length encoded image file |
SCT | R | Scitex Continuous Tone Picture |
SFW | R | Seattle File Works image |
SGI | RW | Irix RGB image |
SHTML | W | Hypertext Markup Language client-side image map | Used to write HTML clickable image maps based on a the output of montage or a format which supports tiled images such as MIFF.
SUN | RW | SUN Rasterfile |
SVG | RW | Scalable Vector Graphics | Requires libxml2 and freetype-2. Note that SVG is a very complex specification so support is still not complete.
TGA | RW | Truevision Targa image | Also known as formats `ICB`, `VDA`, and `VST`.

TIFF

RW

Tagged Image File Format

Also known as `TIF`. Requires tiff-v3.6.1.tar.gz or later. Use -define to specify the rows per strip (e.g. `-define tiff:rows-per-strip=8`). To specify a signed format, use `-define quantum:format signed`. To specify a single-precision floating-point format, use `-depth 32 -define quantum:format=floating-point`. Set the depth to 64 for a double-precision floating-point format. Specify the extra samples as associated or unassociated alpha with, for example, -define tiff:alpha=unassociated

TIM | R | PSX TIM file |
TTF | R | TrueType font file | Requires freetype 2. Opening as file returns a preview image. Use -set if you do not want to hint glyph outlines after their scaling to device pixels (e.g. `-set type:hinting off`).
TXT | RW | Raw text file |
UIL | W | X-Motif UIL table |
UYVY | RW | Interleaved YUV raw image | Use -size and -depth command line options to specify width and height. Use -sampling-factor to set the desired subsampling (e.g. -sampling-factor 4:2:2).
VICAR | RW | VICAR rasterfile format |
VIFF | RW | Khoros Visualization Image File Format |
WBMP | RW | Wireless bitmap | Support for uncompressed monochrome only.

WMF

R

Windows Metafile

Requires libwmf. By default, renders WMF files using the dimensions specified by the metafile header. Use the -density option to adjust the output resolution, and thereby adjust the output size. The default output resolution is 72DPI so `-density 144` results in an image twice as large as the default. Use -background color to specify the WMF background color (default white) or -texture filename to specify a background texture image.

WPG | R | Word Perfect Graphics File |
X | RW | display or import an image to or from an X11 server | Use -define to obtain the image from the root window (e.g. `-define x:screen=true`).
XBM | RW | X Windows system bitmap, black and white only | Used by the X Windows System to store monochrome icons.
XCF | R | GIMP image |
XPM | RW | X Windows system pixmap | Also known as `PM`. Used by the X Windows System to store color icons.
XWD | RW | X Windows system window dump | Used by the X Windows System to save/display screen dumps.
YCbCr | RW | Raw Y, Cb, and Cr samples | Use -size and -depth to specify the image width, height, and depth.
YCbCrA | RW | Raw Y, Cb, Cr, and alpha samples | Use -size and -depth to specify the image width, height, and depth.
YUV | RW | CCIR 601 4:1:1 | Use -size and -depth command line options to specify width, height, and depth. Use -sampling-factor to set the desired subsampling (e.g. -sampling-factor 4:2:2).

## Pseudo-image Formats

ImageMagick supports a number of image format specifications which refer to images prepared via an algorithm, or input/output targets. The following table lists these pseudo-image formats:

Tag | Mode | Description | Notes
--- | --- | --- | ---
CAPTION | R | Image caption |
CLIPBOARD | RW | Windows Clipboard | Only available under Microsoft Windows.
FRACTAL | R | Plasma fractal image |
GRADIENT | R | Gradual passing from one shade to another | Returns a rendered gradient image using the specified image size. Specify the desired shading as part of the filename (e.g. `gradient:red-blue` or `gradient:#F00-#00F`).
HISTOGRAM | W | Histogram of the image |
LABEL | R | Text image format | Specify the desired text as the filename (e.g. `label:"This is a label"`).
MAP | RW | Colormap intensities and indices | Set -depth to set the sample size of the intensities; indices are 16-bit if colors > 256.
MATTE | W | MATTE format | Write only.
NULL | RW | NULL image | Useful for creating blank tiles with montage (use `NULL:`). Also useful as an output format when evaluating image read performance.
PLASMA | R | Plasma fractal image |
PREVIEW | W | Show a preview an image enhancement, effect, or f/x | Creates a preview montage of images prepared over a parameteric range in order to assist with parameter selection. Specify the desired preview type via the -preview option).
PRINT | W | Send image to your computer printer | Unix users may set the PRINTER (for 'lp') or LPDEST (for 'lpr') environment variables to select the desired printer.
SCAN | R | Import image from a scanner device | Requires SANE Specify the device name and path as the filename (e.g. `scan:mustek:/dev/scanner`).
STEGANO | R | Steganographic image | Use -size command line option to specify width, height, and offset of the steganographic image
TILE | R | Tiled image | Create a tiled version of an image at by tiling a image. Use -size to specify the tiled image size. The image is specified similar to `TILE:image.miff`.
UNIQUE | W | Write only unique pixels to the image file. |
VID | RW | Visual Image Directory | Used to create a thumbnailed directory (tiled thumbnails) of a set of images which may be used to select images to view via the display program, or saved to a MIFF or SHTML file.
WIN | RW | Select image from or display image to your computer screen | Only supported under Microsoft Windows.
X | RW | Select image from or display image to your X server screen | Also see the import and display programs.
XC | R | Canvas image of specified color | Useful to create solid color canvas images. Use -size and -depth to specify the image width, height, and depth. Example XC color specifications include `XC:red` and `XC:#FF0000M`.

## Built-in Images

ImageMagick includes a number of built-in (embedded) images which may be referenced as if they were an image file. The `magick:` format tag may be used via the syntax `magick:`name to request an embedded image (e.g. `magick:logo`). For backwards compatibility, the image specifications `GRANITE:`, `LOGO:`, `NETSCAPE:`, and `ROSE:` may also be used to request images with those names.

Tag | Mode | Description | Notes
--- | --- | --- | ---
GRANITE | R | 128x128 granite texture pattern |
LOGO | R | ImageMagick Logo, 640x480 | The ImageMagick logo is copyright Pineapple USA Inc. It is freely redistributable, however, modifications to the logo other than sizing are not permitted.
NETSCAPE | R | image using colors in Netscape 216 (6x6x6 ) color cube, 216x144 | Most commonly used with the convert and mogrify programs with the -map option to create web safe images.
ROSE | R | Picture of a rose, 70x46 |

## Built-in Patterns

ImageMagick includes a number of built-in (embedded) patterns which may be referenced as if they were an image file. The `pattern:` format tag may be used via the syntax `pattern:`name to request an embedded pattern (e.g. `pattern:checkerboard`). The pattern size is controlled with the -size command line option.

Tag | Mode | Description | Notes
--- | --- | --- | ---
BRICKS | R | brick pattern, 16x16 |
CHECKERBOARD | R | checkerboard pattern, 30x30 |
CIRCLES | R | circles pattern, 16x16 |
CROSSHATCH | R | crosshatch pattern, 8x4 |
CROSSHATCH30 | R | crosshatch pattern with lines at 30 degrees, 8x4 |
CROSSHATCH45 | R | crosshatch pattern with lines at 45 degrees, 8x4 |
FISHSCALES | R | fish scales pattern, 16x8 |
GRAY0 | R | 0% intensity gray, 32x32 |
GRAY5 | R | 5% intensity gray, 32x32 |
GRAY10 | R | 10% intensity gray, 32x32 |
GRAY15 | R | 15% intensity gray, 32x32 |
GRAY20 | R | 20% intensity gray, 32x32 |
GRAY25 | R | 25% intensity gray, 32x32 |
GRAY30 | R | 30% intensity gray, 32x32 |
GRAY35 | R | 35% intensity gray, 32x32 |
GRAY40 | R | 40% intensity gray, 32x32 |
GRAY45 | R | 45% intensity gray, 32x32 |
GRAY50 | R | 50% intensity gray, 32x32 |
GRAY55 | R | 55% intensity gray, 32x32 |
GRAY60 | R | 60% intensity gray, 32x32 |
GRAY65 | R | 65% intensity gray, 32x32 |
GRAY70 | R | 70% intensity gray, 32x32 |
GRAY75 | R | 75% intensity gray, 32x32 |
GRAY80 | R | 80% intensity gray, 32x32 |
GRAY85 | R | 85% intensity gray, 32x32 |
GRAY90 | R | 90% intensity gray, 32x32 |
GRAY95 | R | 95% intensity gray, 32x32 |
GRAY100 | R | 100% intensity gray, 32x32 |
HEXAGONS | R | hexagon pattern, 30x18 |
HORIZONTAL | R | horizontal line pattern, 8x4 |
HORIZONTALSAW | R | horizontal saw-tooth pattern, 16x8 |
HS_BDIAGONAL | R | backward diagonal line pattern (45 degrees slope), 8x8 |
HS_CROSS | R | cross line pattern, 8x8 |
HS_DIAGCROSS | R | diagonal line cross pattern (45 degrees slope), 8x8 |
HS_FDIAGONAL | R | forward diagonal line pattern (45 degrees slope), 8x8 |
HS_HORIZONTAL | R | horizontal line pattern, 8x8 |
HS_VERTICAL | R | vertical line pattern, 8x8 |
LEFT30 | R | forward diagonal pattern (30 degrees slope), 8x4 |
LEFT45 | R | forward diagonal line pattern (45 degrees slope), 8x8 |
LEFTSHINGLE | R | left shingle pattern, 24x24 |
OCTAGONS | R | octagons pattern, 16x16 |
RIGHT30 | R | backward diagonal line pattern (30 degrees) 8x4 |
RIGHT45 | R | backward diagonal line pattern (30 degrees), 8x8 |
RIGHTSHINGLE | R | right shingle pattern, 24x24 |
SMALLFISHSCALES | R | small fish scales pattern, 8x8 |
VERTICAL | R | vertical line pattern, 8x8 |
VERTICALBRICKS | R | vertical brick pattern, 16x16 |
VERTICALLEFTSHINGLE | R | vertical left shingle pattern, 24x24 |
VERTICALRIGHTSHINGLE | R | vertical right shingle pattern, 24x24 |
VERTICALSAW | R | vertical saw-tooth pattern, 8x16 |

## Embedded Image Profiles

ImageMagick provides a number of format identifiers which are used to add, remove, and save embedded profiles for images which can support embedded profiles. Image types which may contain embedded profiles are TIFF, JPEG, and PDF.

Tag | Mode | Description | Notes
--- | --- | --- | ---
8BIM | RW | Photoshop resource format (binary) |
8BIMTEXT | RW | Photoshop resource format (ASCII) | An ASCII representation of the 8BIM format.
APP1 | RW | Raw application information |
APP1JPEG | RW | Raw JPEG binary data | Profile in JPEG wrapper.
ICC | RW | International Color Consortium color profile | Also known as `ICM`. To read, use -profile with convert.
IPTC | RW | IPTC Newsphoto (binary) | To read, use -profile with convert
IPTCTEXT | RW | IPTC Newsphoto (ASCII) | An ASCII representation of the IPTC format.

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