1Imager(3) User Contributed Perl Documentation Imager(3)
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6 Imager - Perl extension for Generating 24 bit Images
7
9 # Thumbnail example
10
11 #!/usr/bin/perl -w
12 use strict;
13 use Imager;
14
15 die "Usage: thumbmake.pl filename\n" if !-f $ARGV[0];
16 my $file = shift;
17
18 my $format;
19
20 # see Imager::Files for information on the read() method
21 my $img = Imager->new(file=>$file)
22 or die Imager->errstr();
23
24 $file =~ s/\.[^.]*$//;
25
26 # Create smaller version
27 # documented in Imager::Transformations
28 my $thumb = $img->scale(scalefactor=>.3);
29
30 # Autostretch individual channels
31 $thumb->filter(type=>'autolevels');
32
33 # try to save in one of these formats
34 SAVE:
35
36 for $format ( qw( png gif jpeg tiff ppm ) ) {
37 # Check if given format is supported
38 if ($Imager::formats{$format}) {
39 $file.="_low.$format";
40 print "Storing image as: $file\n";
41 # documented in Imager::Files
42 $thumb->write(file=>$file) or
43 die $thumb->errstr;
44 last SAVE;
45 }
46 }
47
49 Imager is a module for creating and altering images. It can read and
50 write various image formats, draw primitive shapes like lines,and
51 polygons, blend multiple images together in various ways, scale, crop,
52 render text and more.
53
54 Overview of documentation
55 • Imager - This document - Synopsis, Example, Table of Contents and
56 Overview.
57
58 • Imager::Install - installation notes for Imager.
59
60 • Imager::Tutorial - a brief introduction to Imager.
61
62 • Imager::Cookbook - how to do various things with Imager.
63
64 • Imager::ImageTypes - Basics of constructing image objects with
65 new(): Direct type/virtual images, RGB(A)/paletted images,
66 8/16/double bits/channel, color maps, channel masks, image tags,
67 color quantization. Also discusses basic image information
68 methods.
69
70 • Imager::Files - IO interaction, reading/writing images, format
71 specific tags.
72
73 • Imager::Draw - Drawing Primitives, lines, boxes, circles, arcs,
74 flood fill.
75
76 • Imager::Color - Color specification.
77
78 • Imager::Fill - Fill pattern specification.
79
80 • Imager::Font - General font rendering, bounding boxes and font
81 metrics.
82
83 • Imager::Transformations - Copying, scaling, cropping, flipping,
84 blending, pasting, convert and map.
85
86 • Imager::Engines - Programmable transformations through transform(),
87 transform2() and matrix_transform().
88
89 • Imager::Filters - Filters, sharpen, blur, noise, convolve etc. and
90 filter plug-ins.
91
92 • Imager::Expr - Expressions for evaluation engine used by
93 transform2().
94
95 • Imager::Matrix2d - Helper class for affine transformations.
96
97 • Imager::Fountain - Helper for making gradient profiles.
98
99 • Imager::IO - Imager I/O abstraction.
100
101 • Imager::API - using Imager's C API
102
103 • Imager::APIRef - API function reference
104
105 • Imager::Inline - using Imager's C API from Inline::C
106
107 • Imager::ExtUtils - tools to get access to Imager's C API.
108
109 • Imager::Security - brief security notes.
110
111 • Imager::Threads - brief information on working with threads.
112
113 Basic Overview
114 An Image object is created with "$img = Imager->new()". Examples:
115
116 $img=Imager->new(); # create empty image
117 $img->read(file=>'lena.png',type=>'png') or # read image from file
118 die $img->errstr(); # give an explanation
119 # if something failed
120
121 or if you want to create an empty image:
122
123 $img=Imager->new(xsize=>400,ysize=>300,channels=>4);
124
125 This example creates a completely black image of width 400 and height
126 300 and 4 channels.
127
129 In general a method will return false when it fails, if it does use the
130 errstr() method to find out why:
131
132 errstr()
133 Returns the last error message in that context.
134
135 If the last error you received was from calling an object method,
136 such as read, call errstr() as an object method to find out why:
137
138 my $image = Imager->new;
139 $image->read(file => 'somefile.gif')
140 or die $image->errstr;
141
142 If it was a class method then call errstr() as a class method:
143
144 my @imgs = Imager->read_multi(file => 'somefile.gif')
145 or die Imager->errstr;
146
147 Note that in some cases object methods are implemented in terms of
148 class methods so a failing object method may set both.
149
150 The "Imager->new" method is described in detail in Imager::ImageTypes.
151
153 Where to find information on methods for Imager class objects.
154
155 addcolors() - "addcolors()" in Imager::ImageTypes - add colors to a
156 paletted image
157
158 add_file_magic() - "add_file_magic()" in Imager::Files - add magic to
159 Imager's file type detector.
160
161 addtag() - "addtag()" in Imager::ImageTypes - add image tags
162
163 add_type_extensions() - "add_file_magic()" in Imager::Files - add magic
164 for new image file types.
165
166 "add_type_extensions($type, $ext, ...)" in Imager::Files - add
167 extensions for new image file types.
168
169 align_string() - "align_string()" in Imager::Draw - draw text aligned
170 on a point
171
172 alphachannel() - "alphachannel()" in Imager::ImageTypes - return the
173 channel index of the alpha channel (if any).
174
175 arc() - "arc()" in Imager::Draw - draw a filled arc
176
177 bits() - "bits()" in Imager::ImageTypes - number of bits per sample for
178 the image
179
180 box() - "box()" in Imager::Draw - draw a filled or outline box.
181
182 check_file_limits() - "check_file_limits()" in Imager::Files
183
184 circle() - "circle()" in Imager::Draw - draw a filled circle
185
186 close_log() - "close_log()" in Imager::ImageTypes - close the Imager
187 debugging log.
188
189 colorchannels() - "colorchannels()" in Imager::ImageTypes - the number
190 of channels used for color.
191
192 colorcount() - "colorcount()" in Imager::ImageTypes - the number of
193 colors in an image's palette (paletted images only)
194
195 colormodel() - "colorcount()" in Imager::ImageTypes - how color is
196 represented.
197
198 combine() - "combine()" in Imager::Transformations - combine channels
199 from one or more images.
200
201 combines() - "combines()" in Imager::Draw - return a list of the
202 different combine type keywords
203
204 compose() - "compose()" in Imager::Transformations - compose one image
205 over another.
206
207 convert() - "convert()" in Imager::Transformations - transform the
208 color space
209
210 copy() - "copy()" in Imager::Transformations - make a duplicate of an
211 image
212
213 crop() - "crop()" in Imager::Transformations - extract part of an image
214
215 def_guess_type() - "def_guess_type()" in Imager::Files - default
216 function used to guess the output file format based on the output file
217 name
218
219 deltag() - "deltag()" in Imager::ImageTypes - delete image tags
220
221 difference() - "difference()" in Imager::Filters - produce a difference
222 images from two input images.
223
224 errstr() - "errstr()" - the error from the last failed operation.
225
226 filter() - "filter()" in Imager::Filters - image filtering
227
228 findcolor() - "findcolor()" in Imager::ImageTypes - search the image
229 palette, if it has one
230
231 flip() - "flip()" in Imager::Transformations - flip an image,
232 vertically, horizontally
233
234 flood_fill() - "flood_fill()" in Imager::Draw - fill an enclosed or
235 same color area
236
237 getchannels() - "getchannels()" in Imager::ImageTypes - the number of
238 samples per pixel for an image
239
240 getcolorcount() - "getcolorcount()" in Imager::ImageTypes - the number
241 of different colors used by an image (works for direct color images)
242
243 getcolors() - "getcolors()" in Imager::ImageTypes - get colors from the
244 image palette, if it has one
245
246 getcolorusage() - "getcolorusage()" in Imager::ImageTypes
247
248 getcolorusagehash() - "getcolorusagehash()" in Imager::ImageTypes
249
250 get_file_limits() - "get_file_limits()" in Imager::Files
251
252 getheight() - "getheight()" in Imager::ImageTypes - height of the image
253 in pixels
254
255 getmask() - "getmask()" in Imager::ImageTypes - write mask for the
256 image
257
258 getpixel() - "getpixel()" in Imager::Draw - retrieve one or more pixel
259 colors
260
261 getsamples() - "getsamples()" in Imager::Draw - retrieve samples from a
262 row or partial row of pixels.
263
264 getscanline() - "getscanline()" in Imager::Draw - retrieve colors for a
265 row or partial row of pixels.
266
267 getwidth() - "getwidth()" in Imager::ImageTypes - width of the image in
268 pixels.
269
270 img_set() - "img_set()" in Imager::ImageTypes - re-use an Imager object
271 for a new image.
272
273 init() - "init()" in Imager::ImageTypes
274
275 is_bilevel() - "is_bilevel()" in Imager::ImageTypes - returns whether
276 image write functions should write the image in their bilevel (blank
277 and white, no gray levels) format
278
279 is_logging() - "is_logging()" in Imager::ImageTypes - test if the debug
280 log is active.
281
282 line() - "line()" in Imager::Draw - draw an interval
283
284 load_plugin() - "load_plugin()" in Imager::Filters
285
286 log() - "log()" in Imager::ImageTypes - send a message to the debugging
287 log.
288
289 make_palette() - "make_palette()" in Imager::ImageTypes - produce a
290 color palette from one or more input images.
291
292 map() - "map()" in Imager::Transformations - remap color channel values
293
294 masked() - "masked()" in Imager::ImageTypes - make a masked image
295
296 matrix_transform() - "matrix_transform()" in Imager::Engines
297
298 maxcolors() - "maxcolors()" in Imager::ImageTypes
299
300 NC() - "NC()" in Imager::Handy
301
302 NCF() - "NCF()" in Imager::Handy
303
304 new() - "new()" in Imager::ImageTypes
305
306 newcolor() - "newcolor()" in Imager::Handy
307
308 newcolour() - "newcolour()" in Imager::Handy
309
310 newfont() - "newfont()" in Imager::Handy
311
312 NF() - "NF()" in Imager::Handy
313
314 open() - "read()" in Imager::Files - an alias for read()
315
316 open_log() - "open_log()" in Imager::ImageTypes - open the debug log.
317
318 parseiptc() - "parseiptc()" in Imager::Files - parse IPTC data from a
319 JPEG image
320
321 paste() - "paste()" in Imager::Transformations - draw an image onto an
322 image
323
324 polygon() - "polygon()" in Imager::Draw
325
326 polyline() - "polyline()" in Imager::Draw
327
328 polypolygon() - "polypolygon()" in Imager::Draw
329
330 preload() - "preload()" in Imager::Files
331
332 read() - "read()" in Imager::Files - read a single image from an image
333 file
334
335 read_multi() - "read_multi()" in Imager::Files - read multiple images
336 from an image file
337
338 read_types() - "read_types()" in Imager::Files - list image types
339 Imager can read.
340
341 register_filter() - "register_filter()" in Imager::Filters
342
343 register_reader() - "register_reader()" in Imager::Files
344
345 register_writer() - "register_writer()" in Imager::Files
346
347 rgb_difference() - "rgb_difference()" in Imager::Filters - produce a
348 difference images from two input images.
349
350 rotate() - "rotate()" in Imager::Transformations
351
352 rubthrough() - "rubthrough()" in Imager::Transformations - draw an
353 image onto an image and use the alpha channel
354
355 scale() - "scale()" in Imager::Transformations
356
357 scale_calculate() - "scale_calculate()" in Imager::Transformations
358
359 scaleX() - "scaleX()" in Imager::Transformations
360
361 scaleY() - "scaleY()" in Imager::Transformations
362
363 setcolors() - "setcolors()" in Imager::ImageTypes - set palette colors
364 in a paletted image
365
366 set_file_limits() - "set_file_limits()" in Imager::Files
367
368 setmask() - "setmask()" in Imager::ImageTypes
369
370 setpixel() - "setpixel()" in Imager::Draw
371
372 setsamples() - "setsamples()" in Imager::Draw
373
374 setscanline() - "setscanline()" in Imager::Draw
375
376 settag() - "settag()" in Imager::ImageTypes
377
378 string() - "string()" in Imager::Draw - draw text on an image
379
380 tags() - "tags()" in Imager::ImageTypes - fetch image tags
381
382 to_paletted() - "to_paletted()" in Imager::ImageTypes
383
384 to_rgb16() - "to_rgb16()" in Imager::ImageTypes
385
386 to_rgb8() - "to_rgb8()" in Imager::ImageTypes
387
388 to_rgb_double() - "to_rgb_double()" in Imager::ImageTypes - convert to
389 double per sample image.
390
391 transform() - "transform()" in Imager::Engines
392
393 transform2() - "transform2()" in Imager::Engines
394
395 trim() - "trim()" in Imager::Transformations - return a cropped image
396 based on border transparency or border colors.
397
398 trim_rect() - "trim_rect()" in Imager::Transformations - return how
399 much trim() would remove.
400
401 type() - "type()" in Imager::ImageTypes - type of image (direct vs
402 paletted)
403
404 unload_plugin() - "unload_plugin()" in Imager::Filters
405
406 virtual() - "virtual()" in Imager::ImageTypes - whether the image has
407 it's own data
408
409 write() - "write()" in Imager::Files - write an image to a file
410
411 write_multi() - "write_multi()" in Imager::Files - write multiple image
412 to an image file.
413
414 write_types() - "read_types()" in Imager::Files - list image types
415 Imager can write.
416
418 animated GIF - "Writing an animated GIF" in Imager::Files
419
420 aspect ratio - "i_xres", "i_yres", "i_aspect_only" in "Common Tags" in
421 Imager::ImageTypes.
422
423 blend - alpha blending one image onto another "rubthrough()" in
424 Imager::Transformations
425
426 blur - ""gaussian"" in Imager::Filters, ""conv"" in Imager::Filters
427
428 boxes, drawing - "box()" in Imager::Draw
429
430 changes between image - "Image Difference" in Imager::Filters
431
432 channels, combine into one image - "combine()" in
433 Imager::Transformations
434
435 color - Imager::Color
436
437 color names - Imager::Color, Imager::Color::Table
438
439 combine modes - "Combine Types" in Imager::Draw
440
441 compare images - "Image Difference" in Imager::Filters
442
443 contrast - ""contrast"" in Imager::Filters, ""autolevels"" in
444 Imager::Filters
445
446 convolution - ""conv"" in Imager::Filters
447
448 cropping - "crop()" in Imager::Transformations, "trim()" in
449 Imager::Transformations
450
451 CUR files - "ICO (Microsoft Windows Icon) and CUR (Microsoft Windows
452 Cursor)" in Imager::Files
453
454 "diff" images - "Image Difference" in Imager::Filters
455
456 dpi - "i_xres", "i_yres" in "Common Tags" in Imager::ImageTypes, "Image
457 spatial resolution" in Imager::Cookbook
458
459 drawing boxes - "box()" in Imager::Draw
460
461 drawing lines - "line()" in Imager::Draw
462
463 drawing text - "string()" in Imager::Draw, "align_string()" in
464 Imager::Draw
465
466 error message - "ERROR HANDLING"
467
468 files, font - Imager::Font
469
470 files, image - Imager::Files
471
472 filling, types of fill - Imager::Fill
473
474 filling, boxes - "box()" in Imager::Draw
475
476 filling, flood fill - "flood_fill()" in Imager::Draw
477
478 flood fill - "flood_fill()" in Imager::Draw
479
480 fonts - Imager::Font
481
482 fonts, drawing with - "string()" in Imager::Draw, "align_string()" in
483 Imager::Draw, Imager::Font::Wrap
484
485 fonts, metrics - "bounding_box()" in Imager::Font, Imager::Font::BBox
486
487 fonts, multiple master - "MULTIPLE MASTER FONTS" in Imager::Font
488
489 fountain fill - "Fountain fills" in Imager::Fill, ""fountain"" in
490 Imager::Filters, Imager::Fountain, ""gradgen"" in Imager::Filters
491
492 GIF files - "GIF" in Imager::Files
493
494 GIF files, animated - "Writing an animated GIF" in Imager::Files
495
496 gradient fill - "Fountain fills" in Imager::Fill, ""fountain"" in
497 Imager::Filters, Imager::Fountain, ""gradgen"" in Imager::Filters
498
499 gray scale, convert image to - "convert()" in Imager::Transformations
500
501 gaussian blur - ""gaussian"" in Imager::Filters, ""gaussian2"" in
502 Imager::Filters
503
504 hatch fills - "Hatched fills" in Imager::Fill
505
506 ICO files - "ICO (Microsoft Windows Icon) and CUR (Microsoft Windows
507 Cursor)" in Imager::Files
508
509 invert image - ""hardinvert"" in Imager::Filters, ""hardinvertall"" in
510 Imager::Filters
511
512 JPEG - "JPEG" in Imager::Files
513
514 limiting image sizes - "Limiting the sizes of images you read" in
515 Imager::Files
516
517 lines, drawing - "line()" in Imager::Draw
518
519 matrix - Imager::Matrix2d, "Matrix Transformations" in Imager::Engines,
520 "transform()" in Imager::Font
521
522 metadata, image - "Tags" in Imager::ImageTypes, Image::ExifTool
523
524 mosaic - ""mosaic"" in Imager::Filters
525
526 noise, filter - ""noise"" in Imager::Filters
527
528 noise, rendered - ""turbnoise"" in Imager::Filters, ""radnoise"" in
529 Imager::Filters
530
531 paste - "paste()" in Imager::Transformations, "rubthrough()" in
532 Imager::Transformations
533
534 pseudo-color image - "to_paletted()" in Imager::ImageTypes, "new()" in
535 Imager::ImageTypes
536
537 posterize - ""postlevels"" in Imager::Filters
538
539 PNG files - Imager::Files, "PNG" in Imager::Files
540
541 PNM - "PNM (Portable aNy Map)" in Imager::Files
542
543 rectangles, drawing - "box()" in Imager::Draw
544
545 resizing an image - "scale()" in Imager::Transformations, "crop()" in
546 Imager::Transformations
547
548 RGB (SGI) files - "SGI (RGB, BW)" in Imager::Files
549
550 saving an image - Imager::Files
551
552 scaling - "scale()" in Imager::Transformations
553
554 security - Imager::Security
555
556 SGI files - "SGI (RGB, BW)" in Imager::Files
557
558 sharpen - ""unsharpmask"" in Imager::Filters, ""conv"" in
559 Imager::Filters
560
561 size, image - "getwidth()" in Imager::ImageTypes, "getheight()" in
562 Imager::ImageTypes
563
564 size, text - "bounding_box()" in Imager::Font
565
566 tags, image metadata - "Tags" in Imager::ImageTypes
567
568 text, drawing - "string()" in Imager::Draw, "align_string()" in
569 Imager::Draw, Imager::Font::Wrap
570
571 text, wrapping text in an area - Imager::Font::Wrap
572
573 text, measuring - "bounding_box()" in Imager::Font, Imager::Font::BBox
574
575 threads - Imager::Threads
576
577 tiles, color - ""mosaic"" in Imager::Filters
578
579 transparent images - Imager::ImageTypes, "Transparent PNG" in
580 Imager::Cookbook
581
582 unsharp mask - ""unsharpmask"" in Imager::Filters
583
584 watermark - ""watermark"" in Imager::Filters
585
586 writing an image to a file - Imager::Files
587
589 The best place to get help with Imager is the mailing list.
590
591 To subscribe send a message with "subscribe" in the body to:
592
593 imager-devel+request@molar.is
594
595 or use the form at:
596
597 <http://www.molar.is/en/lists/imager-devel/>
598
599 where you can also find the mailing list archive.
600
601 You can report bugs either via github at:
602
603 <https://github.com/tonycoz/imager/issues>
604
605 or at:
606
607 <https://rt.cpan.org/NoAuth/ReportBug.html?Queue=Imager>
608
609 or by sending an email to:
610
611 bug-Imager@rt.cpan.org
612
613 Please remember to include the versions of Imager, perl, supporting
614 libraries, and any relevant code. If you have specific images that
615 cause the problems, please include those too.
616
618 Feedback
619 I like feedback.
620
621 You can send email to the maintainer below.
622
623 If you send me a bug report via email, it will be copied to Request
624 Tracker.
625
626 Patches
627 I accept patches, preferably against the master branch in git. Please
628 include an explanation of the reason for why the patch is needed or
629 useful.
630
631 Your patch should include regression tests where possible, otherwise it
632 will be delayed until I get a chance to write them.
633
634 To browse Imager's git repository:
635
636 https://github.com/tonycoz/imager.git
637
638 To clone:
639
640 git clone git://github.com/tonycoz/imager.git
641
642 Or you can create a fork as usual on github and submit a github pull
643 request.
644
645 Patches can either be submitted as a github pull request or by using
646 "git format-patch", for example, if you made your changes in a branch
647 from master you might do:
648
649 git format-patch -k --stdout master >my-patch.txt
650
651 and then attach that to your bug report, either by adding it as an
652 attachment in your email client, or by using the Request Tracker
653 attachment mechanism.
654
656 Tony Cook <tonyc@cpan.org> is the current maintainer for Imager.
657
658 Arnar M. Hrafnkelsson is the original author of Imager.
659
660 Many others have contributed to Imager, please see the "README" for a
661 complete list.
662
664 Imager is licensed under the same terms as perl itself.
665
666 A test font, generated by the Debian packaged Fontforge,
667 FT2/fontfiles/MMOne.pfb, contains a Postscript operator definition
668 copyrighted by Adobe. See adobe.txt in the source for license
669 information.
670
672 perl(1), Imager::ImageTypes(3), Imager::Files(3), Imager::Draw(3),
673 Imager::Color(3), Imager::Fill(3), Imager::Font(3),
674 Imager::Transformations(3), Imager::Engines(3), Imager::Filters(3),
675 Imager::Expr(3), Imager::Matrix2d(3), Imager::Fountain(3)
676
677 <http://imager.perl.org/>
678
679 Affix::Infix2Postfix(3), Parse::RecDescent(3)
680
681 Other perl imaging modules include:
682
683 GD(3), Image::Magick(3), Graphics::Magick
684 <http://www.graphicsmagick.org/perl.html>(3), Prima::Image, IPA.
685
686 For manipulating image metadata see Image::ExifTool.
687
688 If you're trying to use Imager for array processing, you should
689 probably using PDL.
690
691
692
693perl v5.38.0 2023-07-20 Imager(3)