convert(1)

convert(1) — General Commands Manual 💖

✨ NAME ✨

convert — she converts between image formats, and also resizes an image, blurs it, crops it, despeckles it, dithers it, draws on it, flips it, joins it, re-samples it, and does so much more. periodt. 💅

🌸 SYNOPSIS 🌸

magick convert [input-options] input-file [output-options] output-file

🦋 OVERVIEW 🦋

okay so the convert program is a member of the ImageMagick(1) suite of tools. use it to convert between image formats, and also to resize an image, blur, crop, despeckle, dither, draw on, flip, join, re-sample, and much more. it's giving main character energy for all your image needs. 👑

for more info about the convert command, point your browser to file:///usr/share/doc/ImageMagick-7/www/convert.html or https://imagemagick.org/script/convert.php. no cap.

💅 DESCRIPTION 💅

🎀 Image Settings 🎀

bestie, here's the full setting list. every single one. don't skip. 🫶

• -adjoin — join images into a single multi-image file, like one big happy file family 🫶
• -affine matrix — affine transform matrix, math girlie but for images ✨
• -alpha option — activate, deactivate, reset, or set the alpha channel — transparency decisions, we love her 💅
• -antialias — remove pixel-aliasing — smooth those jagged edges, slay
• -authenticate value — decrypt image with this password — secret password moment 🔐
• -attenuate value — lessen (or intensify) when adding noise to an image — turn the noise volume up or down 🎚️
• -background color — background color — the backdrop, the vibe setter 🌈
• -bias value — add bias when convolving an image — convolution bias, periodt
• -black-point-compensation — use black point compensation — yes bestie, compensate those blacks 🖤
• -blue-primary point — chromaticity blue primary point — blue's exact coordinate 💙
• -bordercolor color — border color — the outline's color, cute
• -caption string — assign a caption to an image — give it a lil caption bestie 📝
• -cdl filename — color correct with a color decision list — CDL color correction, no cap
• -clip — clip along the first path from the 8BIM profile — clipping along that first 8BIM path ✂️
• -clip-mask filename — associate a clip mask with the image — attach that clip mask bestie
• -clip-path id — clip along a named path from the 8BIM profile — named path in the 8BIM profile, iykyk
• -colorspace type — alternate image colorspace — swap the colorspace vibe 🎨
• -comment string — annotate image with comment — drop a comment on it 💬
• -compose operator — set image composite operator — composite operator setting, periodt
• -compress type — type of pixel compression when writing the image — how pixels get squished on write 📦
• -decipher filename — convert cipher pixels to plain pixels — decode the secret pixels 🔓
• -define format:option — define one or more image format options — define format options, bestie
• -delay centiseconds — display the next image after pausing — pause in centiseconds before next image ⏳
• -density geometry — horizontal and vertical density of the image — density geometry, horizontal and vertical
• -depth value — image depth — set that depth value
• -direction type — render text right-to-left or left-to-right — text direction, pick a lane ➡️⬅️
• -display server — get image or font from this X server — X server source, retro vibes
• -dispose method — layer disposal method — how layers get disposed, method style
• -dither method — apply error diffusion to image — dither with error diffusion, cute noise
• -encipher filename — convert plain pixels to cipher pixels — encrypt those pixels 🔐
• -encoding type — text encoding type — text encoding, type it
• -endian type — endianness (MSB or LSB) of the image — MSB or LSB endianness, big/little energy
• -family name — render text with this font family — font family for text, bestie
• -features distance — analyze image features (e.g. contrast, correlation) — analyze features like contrast and correlation 🔍
• -fill color — color to use when filling a graphic primitive — fill color for graphic primitives 🎨
• -filter type — use this filter when resizing an image — resize filter, choose wisely
• -flatten — flatten a sequence of images — flatten that sequence, periodt
• -font name — render text with this font — pick the font, bestie
• -format "string" — output formatted image characteristics — formatted image characteristics output
• -fuzz distance — colors within this distance are considered equal — fuzz distance, colors are equal if close enough
• -gravity type — horizontal and vertical text placement — gravity for text placement, horizontal and vertical
• -green-primary point — chromaticity green primary point — green's exact coordinate 💚
• -intensity method — method to generate intensity value from pixel — how to make intensity from a pixel
• -intent type — type of rendering intent when managing the image color — rendering intent type for color management
• -interlace type — type of image interlacing scheme — interlacing scheme type
• -interline-spacing value — set the space between two text lines — line spacing, but for text lines
• -interpolate method — pixel color interpolation method — pixel color interpolation, method girlie
• -interword-spacing value — set the space between two words — word spacing, bestie
• -kerning value — set the space between two letters — letter spacing, kerning cutie
• -label string — assign a label to an image — label that image 🏷️
• -limit type value — pixel cache resource limit — limit that pixel cache resource
• -loop iterations — add Netscape loop extension to your GIF animation — GIF loop extension, Netscape style
• -matte — store matte channel if the image has one — keep the matte channel if it exists
• -mattecolor color — frame color — matte frame color
• -metric type — measure differences between images with this metric — compare images with this metric
• -moments — report image moments — moments report, math girlie
• -monitor — monitor progress — watch the progress 👀
• -orient type — image orientation — orientation type
• -page geometry — size and location of an image canvas (setting) — page geometry for canvas size and location
• -ping — efficiently determine image attributes — efficient attribute check, bestie
• -pointsize value — font point size — point size for font
• -precision value — maximum number of significant digits to print — max significant digits to print
• -preview type — image preview type — preview type
• -quality value — JPEG/MIFF/PNG compression level — quality level for JPEG/MIFF/PNG
• -quiet — suppress all warning messages — shush those warnings 🤫
• -read-mask filename — associate a read mask with the image — read mask association
• -red-primary point — chromaticity red primary point — red's exact coordinate ❤️
• -regard-warnings — pay attention to warning messages — listen to warnings, bestie
• -remap filename — transform image colors to match this set of colors — remap colors to this set
• -repage geometry — size and location of an image canvas — repage the canvas
• -respect-parentheses — settings remain in effect until parenthesis boundary — respect the parentheses boundary
• -sampling-factor geometry — horizontal and vertical sampling factor — sampling factor, horizontal and vertical
• -scene value — image scene number — scene number
• -seed value — seed a new sequence of pseudo-random numbers — seed those pseudo-random numbers 🎲
• -size geometry — width and height of image — size geometry, width and height
• -statistic type geometry — replace each pixel with corresponding statistic from the neighborhood — statistic replacement from neighborhood
• -stretch type — render text with this font stretch — font stretch for text
• -stroke color — graphic primitive stroke color — stroke color for primitives
• -strokewidth value — graphic primitive stroke width — stroke width for primitives
• -style type — render text with this font style — font style for text
• -support factor — resize support: > 1.0 is blurry, < 1.0 is sharp — support factor: > 1.0 blurry, < 1.0 sharp
• -synchronize — synchronize image to storage device — sync it to storage
• -taint — declare the image as modified — taint it as modified
• -texture filename — name of texture to tile onto the image background — texture to tile on background
• -tile-offset geometry — tile offset — tile offset geometry
• -treedepth value — color tree depth — color tree depth
• -transparent-color color — transparent color — the transparent color
• -undercolor color — annotation bounding box color — undercolor for annotation bounding box
• -units type — the units of image resolution — resolution units
• -verbose — print detailed information about the image — verbose details, spill the tea ☕
• -virtual-pixel method — virtual pixel access method — virtual pixel access method
• -weight type — render text with this font weight — font weight for text
• -white-point point — chromaticity white point — white point coordinate 🤍
• -write-mask filename — associate a write mask with the image — write mask association

✨ Image Operators ✨

okay bestie, this is the big one: every single image operator. these are the flags that actually do stuff to your picture. let's get into it 💅

• -adaptive-blur geometry — blur the pixels but adaptively: the blur effect gets softer near the edges. it's giving "gentle blur with boundaries" 🦋
• -adaptive-resize geometry — resize the image adaptively using data-dependent triangulation. fancy resize, no cap ✨
• -adaptive-sharpen geometry — sharpen pixels adaptively: the effect gets stronger near the edges. edge sharpening with main character energy 👑
• -annotate geometry text — annotate the image with text. put some words on it 💬
• -auto-gamma — automagically adjust the gamma level of the image. it just knows ✨
• -auto-level — automagically adjust the color levels of the image. level up, literally 🌈
• -auto-orient — automatically orient the image. it fixes the rotation based on EXIF data, iykyk 🔄
• -auto-threshold method — automatically perform image thresholding using the given method 🎚️
• -bench iterations — measure performance by running it iterations times. benchmarking, periodt ⏱️
• -bilateral-blur geometry — a non-linear, edge-preserving, and noise-reducing smoothing filter. it's giving smooth but sharp 🧚
• -black-threshold value — force all pixels below value into black. bye bye detail 🖤
• -blue-shift factor — simulate a scene at nighttime in the moonlight, using factor. moon vibes 🌙
• -blur geometry — reduce image noise and reduce detail levels. classic blur, bestie 💨
• -border geometry — surround the image with a border of color. frame it up 🖼️
• -brightness-contrast geometry — improve the brightness / contrast of the image. glow up ✨
• -canny geometry — detect edges in the image. canny edge detection, iconic 🔍
• -channel mask — set the image channel mask. mask on 🎭
• -charcoal radius — simulate a charcoal drawing with the given radius. art class vibes 🎨
• -chop geometry — remove pixels from the image interior. chop chop ✂️
• -clahe geometry — contrast limited adaptive histogram equalization. say that three times fast 😭
• -clamp — keep pixel values in range (0-QuantumRange). no out-of-bounds nonsense 🚫
• -clip — clip along the first path from the 8BIM profile. clipping time ✂️
• -clip-mask filename — associate a clip mask from filename with the image 🎭
• -clip-path id — clip along a named path from the 8BIM profile using id 🛤️
• -colorize value — colorize the image with the fill color, using value. tint it up 🎀
• -color-matrix matrix — apply color correction to the image using the given matrix 🧮
• -colors value — preferred number of colors in the image. reduce the palette to value 🌈
• -color-threshold start_color-stop_color — force all pixels in the color range from start_color to stop_color to white, otherwise black. periodt 🖤🤍
• -connected-component connectivity — connected-components uniquely labeled, using the given connectivity 🔗
• -contrast — enhance or reduce the image contrast. contrast check ✅
• -contrast-stretch geometry — improve contrast by `stretching' the intensity range. stretch it out 💪
• -convolve coefficients — apply a convolution kernel to the image using coefficients 🌀
• -cycle amount — cycle the image colormap by amount. spin that color wheel 🎡
• -deskew threshold — straighten an image using threshold. tilt fixed 📐
• -despeckle — reduce the speckles within an image. bye spots 🧼
• -distort method args — distort images according to the given method and args. bend it like beckham 🌀
• -draw string — annotate the image with a graphic primitive using string ✏️
• -edge radius — apply a filter to detect edges in the image, using radius 🔍
• -emboss radius — emboss an image with the given radius. 3D-ish vibes 🏔️
• -enhance — apply a digital filter to enhance a noisy image. glow up for messy pics ✨
• -equalize — perform histogram equalization to an image. balance restored ⚖️
• -evaluate operator value — evaluate an arithmetic, relational, or logical expression using operator and value 🧮
• -extent geometry — set the image size to geometry. size matters 📏
• -extract geometry — extract area from image using geometry ✂️
• -fft — implements the discrete Fourier transform (DFT) 🌊
• -flip — flip image vertically. upside down, bestie 🙃
• -floodfill geometry color — floodfill the image with color at geometry. paint bucket energy 🪣
• -flop — flop image horizontally. mirror mirror 🪞
• -frame geometry — surround image with an ornamental border. fancy frame 🖼️
• -function name — apply a function to the image using name 🧠
• -gamma value — level of gamma correction, set to value 🌟
• -gaussian-blur geometry — reduce image noise and reduce detail levels with a gaussian blur. soft focus 💨
• -geometry geometry — preferred size or location of the image, using geometry 📐
• -grayscale method — convert image to grayscale using method. black and white era 🩶
• -hough-lines geometry — identify lines in the image using geometry 📏
• -identify — identify the format and characteristics of the image. detective mode 🔎
• -ift — implements the inverse discrete Fourier transform (DFT) 🔄
• -implode amount — implode image pixels about the center by amount. black hole vibes 🕳️
• -integral — calculate the sum of values (pixel values) in the image. math girlies rise 🧮
• -interpolative-resize geometry — resize image using interpolation, with geometry ✨
• -kmeans geometry — K means color reduction using geometry. cluster it 🎨
• -lat geometry — local adaptive thresholding using geometry 🎚️
• -layers method — optimize or compare image layers using method 📚
• -level value — adjust the level of image contrast using value 📊
• -level-colors color,color — level image with the given color,color pair 🌈
• -linear-stretch geometry — improve contrast by `stretching with saturation' the intensity range. stretch and saturate 💅
• -liquid-rescale geometry — rescale image with seam-carving. liquid rescale, it's giving magic 🪄
• -mean-shift geometry — delineate arbitrarily shaped clusters in the image using geometry 🫧
• -median geometry — apply a median filter to the image using geometry 🧹
• -mode geometry — make each pixel the 'predominant color' of the neighborhood, using geometry 👑
• -modulate value — vary the brightness, saturation, and hue using value 🎛️
• -monochrome — transform image to black and white. monochrome moment 🖤🤍
• -morphology method kernel — apply a morphology method with kernel to the image 🧬
• -motion-blur geometry — simulate motion blur using geometry. zoom zoom 💨
• -negate — replace each pixel with its complementary color. negative space 🌗
• -noise geometry — add or reduce noise in an image using geometry. static vibes 📺
• -normalize — transform image to span the full range of colors. normalize it ✨
• -opaque color — change this color to the fill color. swap it out 🎨
• -ordered-dither NxN — add a noise pattern to the image with specific amplitudes, using an NxN dither 🎛️
• -paint radius — simulate an oil painting with the given radius. art hoe energy 🎨
• -perceptible epsilon — pixel values less than |epsilon| become epsilon or -epsilon 🧚
• -polaroid angle — simulate a Polaroid picture with the given angle. vintage vibes 📸
• -posterize levels — reduce the image to a limited number of color levels. posterize it 🎨
• -print string — interpret string and print to console. say it louder 🗣️
• -profile filename — add, delete, or apply an image profile from filename 📁
• -quantize colorspace — reduce colors in this colorspace. quantize it 🌈
• -radial-blur angle — radial blur the image by angle. spin blur 🌀
• -raise value — lighten/darken image edges to create a 3-D effect using value 🏔️
• -random-threshold low,high — random threshold the image using low,high 🎲
• -range-threshold values — perform either hard or soft thresholding within some range of values in an image 📊
• -region geometry — apply options to a portion of the image defined by geometry 🗺️
• -render — render vector graphics. render queen 👑
• -resample geometry — change the resolution of an image using geometry 📐
• -resize geometry — resize the image to geometry. classic resize ✨
• -roll geometry — roll an image vertically or horizontally by geometry. roll it 🎲
• -rotate degrees — apply Paeth rotation to the image by degrees. spin it 🔄
• -sample geometry — scale image with pixel sampling using geometry 🔍
• -scale geometry — scale the image to geometry. scale it up 📏
• -segment values — segment an image using values. cut it into pieces 🧩
• -selective-blur geometry — selectively blur pixels within a contrast threshold, using geometry 🎯
• -sepia-tone threshold — simulate a sepia-toned photo with threshold. vintage filter 🟤
• -set property value — set an image property to value 🏷️
• -shade degrees — shade the image using a distant light source at degrees. dramatic lighting 💡
• -shadow geometry — simulate an image shadow using geometry. shadow work 🌑
• -sharpen geometry — sharpen the image using geometry. crisp it up 🔪
• -shave geometry — shave pixels from the image edges using geometry. trim the edges ✂️
• -shear geometry — slide one edge of the image along the X or Y axis using geometry. slant it 📐
• -sigmoidal-contrast geometry — lightness rescaling using sigmoidal contrast enhancement, with geometry 📈
• -sketch geometry — simulate a pencil sketch using geometry. doodle vibes ✏️
• -solarize threshold — negate all pixels above the threshold level. solarize it ☀️
• -sort-pixels — sort each scanline in ascending order of intensity. organized queen 📊
• -sparse-color method args — fill in an image based on a few color points, using method and args 🎨
• -splice geometry — splice the background color into the image using geometry 🧬
• -spread amount — displace image pixels by a random amount. scatter it 🎲
• -strip — strip image of all profiles and comments. naked image, no metadata 🫣
• -swirl degrees — swirl image pixels about the center by degrees. swirl it 🌀
• -threshold value — threshold the image using value. black or white, no in-between 🎚️
• -thumbnail geometry — create a thumbnail of the image using geometry. tiny version 📸
• -tile filename — tile image when filling a graphic primitive, using filename 🧱
• -tint value — tint the image with the fill color using value. tint it 🎀
• -transform — affine transform image. transform it ✨
• -transparent color — make this color transparent within the image. see-through 👻
• -transpose — flip image vertically and rotate 90 degrees. flip and rotate 🔄
• -transverse — flop image horizontally and rotate 270 degrees. flop and rotate 🌀
• -trim — trim image edges. crop the excess ✂️
• -type type — set the image type. type check 📷
• -unique-colors — discard all but one of any pixel color. one of each, periodt 🌈
• -unsharp geometry — sharpen the image using geometry. unsharp mask, iconic 🔪
• -vignette geometry — soften the edges of the image in vignette style using geometry 🌸
• -wave geometry — alter an image along a sine wave using geometry. wavy 🌊
• -wavelet-denoise threshold — removes noise from the image using a wavelet transform with threshold. denoise it 🧼
• -white-balance — automagically adjust white balance of image. balance restored ⚖️
• -white-threshold value — force all pixels above value into white. bye bye highlights 🤍

---

🌈 Image Channel Operators 🌈

these are the channel-specific girlies. separate, exchange, extract, transfer — channel drama, but make it useful 💅

• -channel-fx expression — exchange, extract, or transfer one or more image channels using expression. channel switch-up 🔀
• -separate — separate an image channel into a grayscale image. split it 🩶

🌈 Image Sequence Operators 🌈

Okay bestie, this is the part where we stop treating images like lonely little individuals and start moving them around as a whole squad. Group-chat energy, but for pixels. 🫶

• -append — appends an image sequence top to bottom. Want it left to right instead? Use +append. Boom, orientation slay. 💅
• -clut — applies a color lookup table to the image. Color glow-up, no cap. 🎀
• -coalesce — merges a sequence of images.
• -combine — combines a sequence of images. Yes, -coalesce and -combine are both right there in the list, they're separate options, that's just the vibe. 🙈
• -compare — mathematically and visually annotates the difference between an image and its reconstruction. It's giving "spot the difference" but make it math. 🔥
• -complex operator — performs complex mathematics on an image sequence.
• -composite — composites image.
• -copy geometry offset, — copies pixels from one area of an image to another.
• -crop geometry — cuts out a rectangular region of the image. ✂️
• -deconstruct — breaks down an image sequence into constituent parts.
• -evaluate-sequence operator — evaluates an arithmetic, relational, or logical expression.
• -flatten — flattens a sequence of images.
• -fx expression — applies a mathematical expression to an image channel(s).
• -hald-clut — applies a Hald color lookup table to the image.
• -morph value — morphs an image sequence.
• -mosaic — creates a mosaic from an image sequence.
• -poly terms — builds a polynomial from the image sequence and the corresponding terms (coefficients and degree pairs). Math girlies, rise. 👑
• -process arguments — processes the image with a custom image filter.
• -smush geometry — smushes an image sequence together. "Smush" is genuinely the technical term and I am obsessed with that for us. 😭
• -write filename — writes images to this file.

---

🧚 Image Stack Operators 🧚

Now we're cloning, deleting, swapping — full image-stack drama, but make it productive. ✨

• -clone indexes — clones an image.
• -delete indexes — deletes the image from the image sequence.
• -duplicate count,indexes — duplicates an image one or more times.
• -insert index — inserts the last image into the image sequence.
• -reverse — reverses the image sequence.
• -swap indexes — swaps two images in the image sequence.

---

💜 Miscellaneous Options 💜

• -debug events — displays copious debugging information. Copious. Like, a LOT of it.
• -distribute-cache port — distributed pixel cache spanning one or more servers.
• -help — prints program options. Peak bestie behaviour, fr fr.
• -log format — format of debugging information.
• -list type — prints a list of supported option arguments.
• -version — prints version information.

---

Here's the tea on settings vs. operators, and you're gonna want to write this one down: you can use any setting or operator as an output-option. But only a limited number of settings are input-option. That short list is: -antialias, -caption, -density, -define, -encoding, -font, -pointsize, -size, and -texture — plus any of the miscellaneous options. That's it. That's the whole list. 💀

Lowkey the most important thing on this page: don't assume every setting can go on the input side. Only the ones above can.

And now, the format situation. By default, the image format of file is determined by its magic number ✨ — it just knows. But if you wanna specify a particular image format, you've got two moves: precede the filename with an image format name and a colon (i.e. ps:image), or specify the image type as the filename suffix (i.e. image.ps). And if you want standard input or output, just specify 'file' as -. Simple as that. 🦋

ps:image
image.ps
-

---

📖 SEE ALSO 📖

• ImageMagick(1) — the big one. Go read it, bestie.

---

🎀 COPYRIGHT 🎀

Copyright (C) 1999 ImageMagick Studio LLC. Additional copyrights and licenses apply to this software, so go peek at file:///usr/share/doc/ImageMagick-7/www/license.html or https://imagemagick.org/license/. 🫶

---

And that's a wrap on the whole page, angel 💖 brought to you by ImageMagick, dated 2009/01/10 01:00:00, and yes, this is the convert(1) manual, periodt. Go forth and convert. 🌸✨👑