# convert — Convert and Edit Images (ImageMagick) > Practical guide to convert: transform images between formats, resize, crop, rotate, adjust colors and apply effects with ImageMagick (in v7: magick). Source: https://www.jpkc.com/db/en/cheatsheets/images-media/convert/ convert is the Swiss Army knife of ImageMagick: a single command that transforms images between dozens of formats, scales, crops, rotates, adjusts colors, applies effects and even renders PDF pages. In ImageMagick 7, `convert` is deprecated in favor of `magick` – `magick input.png output.jpg` is the modern form, and the classic `convert` calls it internally and stays compatible for now. This guide walks you through the invocations you actually reach for daily, from a quick format swap to web optimization. ## Format Conversion `convert ` — Convert an image to another format (determined by extension). ```bash convert photo.png photo.jpg ``` `convert -quality ` — Convert with specific quality (1-100, for JPEG/WebP). ```bash convert photo.png -quality 85 photo.jpg ``` `convert -define webp:lossless=true ` — Convert to lossless WebP. ```bash convert photo.png -define webp:lossless=true photo.webp ``` `convert -define png:compression-level=9 ` — Convert to PNG with maximum compression. ```bash convert photo.bmp -define png:compression-level=9 photo.png ``` `convert [0] ` — Extract first frame/page from multi-frame image or PDF. ```bash convert animation.gif[0] first-frame.png ``` ## Resize & Scale `convert -resize x ` — Resize to fit within dimensions (maintains aspect ratio). ```bash convert photo.jpg -resize 800x600 thumb.jpg ``` `convert -resize x! ` — Force exact dimensions (ignores aspect ratio). ```bash convert photo.jpg -resize 800x600! stretched.jpg ``` `convert -resize x^ ` — Resize to fill dimensions (may exceed one dimension). ```bash convert photo.jpg -resize 800x600^ -gravity center -extent 800x600 cover.jpg ``` `convert -resize 50% ` — Resize by percentage. ```bash convert photo.jpg -resize 50% half.jpg ``` `convert -resize ` — Resize to a specific width (auto height). ```bash convert photo.jpg -resize 800 resized.jpg ``` `convert -resize x ` — Resize to a specific height (auto width). ```bash convert photo.jpg -resize x600 resized.jpg ``` `convert -thumbnail x ` — Create a thumbnail (strips metadata, faster than resize). ```bash convert photo.jpg -thumbnail 150x150 thumb.jpg ``` ## Crop & Trim `convert -crop x++ ` — Crop a region at specific offset. ```bash convert photo.jpg -crop 400x300+100+50 cropped.jpg ``` `convert -gravity center -crop x+0+0 ` — Crop from the center of the image. ```bash convert photo.jpg -gravity center -crop 400x300+0+0 center.jpg ``` `convert -trim ` — Remove borders/whitespace around the image. ```bash convert logo.png -trim trimmed.png ``` `convert -fuzz % -trim ` — Trim with color tolerance for near-matching borders. ```bash convert logo.png -fuzz 10% -trim trimmed.png ``` `convert -shave x ` — Remove pixels from all edges. ```bash convert photo.jpg -shave 20x20 shaved.jpg ``` ## Rotate & Flip `convert -rotate ` — Rotate the image by specified degrees. ```bash convert photo.jpg -rotate 90 rotated.jpg ``` `convert -auto-orient ` — Auto-rotate based on EXIF orientation data. ```bash convert photo.jpg -auto-orient corrected.jpg ``` `convert -flip ` — Flip vertically (top to bottom). ```bash convert photo.jpg -flip flipped.jpg ``` `convert -flop ` — Flip horizontally (left to right). ```bash convert photo.jpg -flop flopped.jpg ``` `convert -transpose ` — Mirror along top-left to bottom-right diagonal. ```bash convert photo.jpg -transpose transposed.jpg ``` ## Color Adjustments `convert -colorspace Gray ` — Convert to grayscale. ```bash convert photo.jpg -colorspace Gray grayscale.jpg ``` `convert -modulate ,, ` — Adjust brightness, saturation, and hue (100 = unchanged). ```bash convert photo.jpg -modulate 120,130,100 vibrant.jpg ``` `convert -brightness-contrast x ` — Adjust brightness and contrast (-100 to +100). ```bash convert photo.jpg -brightness-contrast 10x20 adjusted.jpg ``` `convert -negate ` — Invert all colors (create a negative). ```bash convert photo.jpg -negate negative.jpg ``` `convert -level %,% ` — Adjust levels (set black/white points). ```bash convert photo.jpg -level 10%,90% adjusted.jpg ``` `convert -normalize ` — Auto-stretch contrast to full range. ```bash convert photo.jpg -normalize normalized.jpg ``` `convert -equalize ` — Equalize histogram for better contrast. ```bash convert photo.jpg -equalize equalized.jpg ``` `convert -colorspace CMYK ` — Convert to CMYK colorspace (for print). ```bash convert photo.jpg -colorspace CMYK print-ready.tiff ``` ## Effects & Filters `convert -blur 0x ` — Apply Gaussian blur. ```bash convert photo.jpg -blur 0x3 blurred.jpg ``` `convert -sharpen 0x ` — Sharpen the image. ```bash convert photo.jpg -sharpen 0x1.5 sharp.jpg ``` `convert -unsharp x++ ` — Apply unsharp mask for precise sharpening. ```bash convert photo.jpg -unsharp 0x1+1+0.05 sharp.jpg ``` `convert -sepia-tone 80% ` — Apply a sepia tone effect. ```bash convert photo.jpg -sepia-tone 80% sepia.jpg ``` `convert -vignette 0x ` — Add a vignette (darkened edges). ```bash convert photo.jpg -vignette 0x20 vignette.jpg ``` `convert -charcoal ` — Apply a charcoal sketch effect. ```bash convert photo.jpg -charcoal 2 sketch.jpg ``` `convert -edge ` — Detect edges in the image. ```bash convert photo.jpg -edge 1 edges.jpg ``` `convert -emboss ` — Apply an emboss effect. ```bash convert photo.jpg -emboss 2 embossed.jpg ``` ## Text & Annotations `convert -gravity south -annotate +0+10 "" ` — Add text annotation at a position. ```bash convert photo.jpg -gravity south -fill white -pointsize 24 -annotate +0+10 "© 2026" annotated.jpg ``` `convert -size x xc: -font -pointsize -fill -annotate ++ "" ` — Create an image from text. ```bash convert -size 400x100 xc:white -font Arial -pointsize 36 -fill black -annotate +10+50 "Hello World" text.png ``` `convert -fill -draw "rectangle , ," ` — Draw a filled rectangle on the image. ```bash convert photo.jpg -fill "rgba(0,0,0,0.5)" -draw "rectangle 0,400 800,500" overlay.jpg ``` ## Metadata & Optimization `convert -strip ` — Remove all metadata (EXIF, ICC profiles, comments). ```bash convert photo.jpg -strip clean.jpg ``` `convert -interlace Plane ` — Create a progressive/interlaced image. ```bash convert photo.jpg -interlace Plane progressive.jpg ``` `convert -sampling-factor 4:2:0 -quality 85 -strip ` — Optimize JPEG for web (smaller file size). ```bash convert photo.jpg -sampling-factor 4:2:0 -quality 85 -interlace Plane -strip optimized.jpg ``` `convert -colors ` — Reduce the number of colors. ```bash convert photo.png -colors 256 reduced.png ``` `convert -depth ` — Set the bit depth (8, 16, etc.). ```bash convert photo.png -depth 8 8bit.png ``` ## Create & Generate `convert -size x xc: ` — Create a solid color canvas. ```bash convert -size 800x600 xc:#336699 canvas.png ``` `convert -size x gradient:- ` — Create a vertical gradient. ```bash convert -size 800x600 gradient:blue-white gradient.png ``` `convert -size x plasma: ` — Create a random plasma fractal. ```bash convert -size 800x600 plasma: plasma.jpg ``` `convert -size x pattern: ` — Create a tiled pattern (checkerboard, hexagons, etc.). ```bash convert -size 800x600 pattern:checkerboard checkers.png ``` `convert -alpha set -background none -channel A -evaluate set % ` — Set uniform transparency level. ```bash convert logo.png -alpha set -background none -channel A -evaluate set 50% semi-transparent.png ``` ## Animation (GIF) `convert -delay ... ` — Create an animated GIF from frames (delay in 1/100s). ```bash convert -delay 20 frame-*.png animation.gif ``` `convert -coalesce ` — Reconstruct all frames to full images (undo optimizations). ```bash convert animation.gif -coalesce frames.gif ``` `convert -layers Optimize ` — Optimize GIF animation for smaller file size. ```bash convert animation.gif -layers Optimize optimized.gif ``` `convert -loop ` — Set GIF loop count (0 = infinite). ```bash convert -delay 50 frame-*.png -loop 0 animation.gif ``` ## Conclusion convert covers nearly every image operation you need on the command line – batch conversion, resizing for the web or quick effects. Keep in mind that the classic `convert` is deprecated under ImageMagick 7: for new scripts, `magick input.png output.jpg` is the recommended form, and `magick mogrify` edits whole directories in place. `convert` overwrites the destination file silently, so never accidentally pass the same path as both input and output. Use `-strip` to remove metadata (EXIF, GPS, ICC) before publishing. Security note: processing PDF, PS and SVG files historically relied on Ghostscript and has repeatedly been an attack surface, which is why ImageMagick restricts risky formats via `policy.xml`. Handle untrusted image files with care and only loosen the policy deliberately. ## Further Reading - [ImageMagick: Command-line Tools](https://imagemagick.org/script/command-line-tools.php) – official reference for convert, magick and mogrify - [ImageMagick: Command-line Options](https://imagemagick.org/script/command-line-options.php) – full list of options such as -resize, -quality and -strip - [Wikipedia: ImageMagick](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ImageMagick) – overview of features, history and supported formats ## Related Commands - [mogrify](https://www.jpkc.com/db/en/cheatsheets/images-media/mogrify/) – batch-edit and convert images in place - [identify](https://www.jpkc.com/db/en/cheatsheets/images-media/identify/) – read format, dimensions and metadata of images - [composite](https://www.jpkc.com/db/en/cheatsheets/images-media/composite/) – overlay and merge images into one