# mogrify — Batch-Edit Images In-Place with ImageMagick > Batch-process images with ImageMagick: resize, convert, optimize. Warning: mogrify overwrites originals in-place by default, unlike convert. Source: https://www.jpkc.com/db/en/cheatsheets/images-media/mogrify/ mogrify is ImageMagick's batch tool: it applies operations like resizing, format conversion or sharpening across entire directories at once. Unlike `convert`, mogrify writes the result straight back into the original file by default – so a single `mogrify -resize 50% *.jpg` shrinks every match irreversibly. Back up your files first or write to a separate folder with `-path `, and always test on a copy. On ImageMagick 7, `magick mogrify` is the recommended form. ## Basic Usage `mogrify -resize x *.jpg` — Resize all JPEGs in the current directory (overwrites originals). ```bash mogrify -resize 800x600 *.jpg ``` `mogrify -format *.jpg` — Convert all JPEGs to another format (creates new files, keeps originals). ```bash mogrify -format png *.jpg ``` `mogrify -path -format *.jpg` — Convert and save to a different directory. ```bash mogrify -path converted/ -format webp *.jpg ``` `mogrify -quality *.jpg` — Recompress all JPEGs with a specific quality. ```bash mogrify -quality 85 *.jpg ``` ## Batch Resize `mogrify -resize x *.png` — Resize to fit within dimensions (maintains aspect ratio). ```bash mogrify -resize 1920x1080 *.png ``` `mogrify -resize 50% *.jpg` — Resize all images to 50% of original size. ```bash mogrify -resize 50% photos/*.jpg ``` `mogrify -resize x\> *.jpg` — Resize only images larger than the specified dimensions (shrink only). ```bash mogrify -resize 1920x1080\> *.jpg ``` `mogrify -resize x\< *.jpg` — Resize only images smaller than the specified dimensions (enlarge only). ```bash mogrify -resize 800x600\< *.jpg ``` `mogrify -thumbnail x *.jpg` — Create thumbnails (strips metadata, faster). ```bash mogrify -path thumbs/ -thumbnail 150x150 *.jpg ``` ## Batch Format Conversion `mogrify -format webp -quality 80 *.jpg` — Convert all JPEGs to WebP. ```bash mogrify -format webp -quality 80 *.jpg ``` `mogrify -format png *.bmp` — Convert all BMPs to PNG. ```bash mogrify -format png *.bmp ``` `mogrify -path output/ -format jpg -quality 90 *.png` — Convert PNGs to JPEGs in a separate directory. ```bash mogrify -path output/ -format jpg -quality 90 *.png ``` `mogrify -format avif -quality 50 *.jpg` — Convert all JPEGs to AVIF (requires AVIF delegate). ```bash mogrify -format avif -quality 50 *.jpg ``` ## Batch Adjustments `mogrify -strip *.jpg` — Remove all metadata from all JPEGs. ```bash mogrify -strip *.jpg ``` `mogrify -auto-orient *.jpg` — Auto-rotate all images based on EXIF orientation. ```bash mogrify -auto-orient photos/*.jpg ``` `mogrify -colorspace Gray *.jpg` — Convert all images to grayscale. ```bash mogrify -colorspace Gray *.jpg ``` `mogrify -normalize *.jpg` — Auto-normalize contrast on all images. ```bash mogrify -normalize *.jpg ``` `mogrify -sharpen 0x1 *.jpg` — Sharpen all images. ```bash mogrify -sharpen 0x1 *.jpg ``` `mogrify -rotate *.jpg` — Rotate all images by specified degrees. ```bash mogrify -rotate 90 *.jpg ``` ## Web Optimization `mogrify -sampling-factor 4:2:0 -quality 85 -strip -interlace Plane *.jpg` — Optimize all JPEGs for web delivery. ```bash mogrify -sampling-factor 4:2:0 -quality 85 -strip -interlace Plane *.jpg ``` `mogrify -path web/ -resize 1200x1200\> -quality 80 -strip *.jpg` — Create web-optimized copies with max dimensions. ```bash mogrify -path web/ -resize 1200x1200\> -quality 80 -strip *.jpg ``` `mogrify -path retina/ -resize 200% *.png` — Create 2x retina versions of images. ```bash mogrify -path retina/ -resize 200% icons/*.png ``` `mogrify -depth 8 -colors 256 *.png` — Reduce PNG color palette for smaller file sizes. ```bash mogrify -depth 8 -colors 256 icons/*.png ``` ## Common Patterns `mkdir -p output && mogrify -path output/ -resize 800x600 -format webp -quality 80 *.jpg` — Resize, convert, and save to output directory in one command. ```bash mkdir -p output && mogrify -path output/ -resize 800x600 -format webp -quality 80 *.jpg ``` `mogrify -resize 800x600 -auto-orient -strip -quality 85 photos/*.jpg` — Resize, fix orientation, strip metadata, and recompress. ```bash mogrify -resize 800x600 -auto-orient -strip -quality 85 photos/*.jpg ``` `find . -name '*.png' -exec mogrify -format webp -quality 80 {} \;` — Recursively convert all PNGs to WebP in subdirectories. ```bash find . -name '*.png' -exec mogrify -format webp -quality 80 {} \; ``` `mogrify -crop x++ *.jpg` — Crop all images to the same region. ```bash mogrify -crop 800x600+100+50 screenshots/*.jpg ``` ## Conclusion mogrify is hard to beat when you need to process dozens or hundreds of images in one sweep – size, format, quality and metadata in a single command. The price is caution: mogrify overwrites the originals in-place by default, so a wrong glob or a forgotten backup costs you the source files irreversibly. When in doubt, write to a separate directory with `-path `, test on a copy, and check the result on a handful of files before you unleash it on `*.jpg`. The one exception: `-format` creates new files with a new extension and leaves the originals untouched. On ImageMagick 7, prefer `magick mogrify`. ## Further Reading - [ImageMagick: mogrify](https://imagemagick.org/script/mogrify.php) – official reference for the mogrify command and its options - [Wikipedia: ImageMagick](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ImageMagick) – overview of the image-processing suite ## Related Commands - [convert](https://www.jpkc.com/db/en/cheatsheets/images-media/convert/) – the sibling command that writes the result to a new file instead of in-place - [identify](https://www.jpkc.com/db/en/cheatsheets/images-media/identify/) – read the format, dimensions and metadata of images - [composite](https://www.jpkc.com/db/en/cheatsheets/images-media/composite/) – overlay and combine two images