Legacy ImageMagick Discussions Archive

Hello,

I downloaded this program to convert rgb jpg's to cmyk. I installed ImageMagick-6.3.9-1-Q16-windows-dll.exe, which installed IMDisplay 1.0. I don't see any way to convert the mode, color space, or file type. Am I missing something? Can this program do this?

I know some gpl programs under development are not user friendly. This one seems to say it is. I am not a programmer.

Thanks

Don't use IMdisplay. Use the convert program that is also part of the ImageMagick package.
To convert file type all you need to do, for example from jpg to png, is:
convert input.jpg output.png

I haven't played around with colourspaces and modes but convert does those too.
For a list of the switches for convert see:
http://imagemagick.org/script/command-line-options.php
and for extensive examples of using convert see:
http://www.imagemagick.org/Usage/

And BTW. Windows also has a "convert" program which can cause problems on the command line - it has nothing to do with image conversion. I avoid this by renaming the ImageMagick convert to imconvert.exe.

Best Wishes
Pete

Thanks for the reply Pete.

Where do I get the converter?

As I said, I'm not at all a programmer - so I can't make much use of the link you offered.

Will I be able to use this program as a non-programmer?

I installed from "ImageMagick-6.3.9-1-Q16-windows-dll.exe"

The desktop shortcut only opens the IMdisplay.

All Programs folder also only has IMDisplay and a web link.

Thanks

The path to your installation's convert program will probably be c:\Program Files\ImageMagick-6.3.9-1-Q16\convert.exe

You don't need to be a programmer but you will need to know how to use the command line in a DOS window (which you start with
Start|All Programs|Accessories|Command Prompt )

Pete

Thanks again Pete.

Oh, I get it.

There is no graphical interface. The whole thing takes place in dos. Sorry for not reading more carefully at first.

Have I got that right? I've never worked like this before.

Something else is still not right. I click on convert.exe and it opens a dos window, runs a bunch of text too fast to read, and shuts itself down. The other .exe's do the same thing. I'm on Vista.

And if I get it to work, how does it know where the file is. The examples just use filenames - should one use the whole path?

Also - there is a simple colorspace command, and then "For a more accurate color conversion to or from the RGB, CMYK, or grayscale colorspaces use the -profile option."

I looked and I don't understand the -profile thing. Anyone have any insight on how to make the -profile option understandable to someone less familiar but bright? The paragraph about this is pretty cryptic to me.

It's all kind of a lot to try to learn just to do this one type of conversion. I can do it if someone can provide a complete example for me, and I'll plug in the particulars.

Otherwise, do you happen to know of anything that will do rgb to cmyk conversion - that's free or cheaper than full photoshop, and works like a typical intuitive interface program?

Many Thanks and Best Wishes to you...

There is no graphical interface. The whole thing takes place in dos.

That's correct

I click on convert.exe and it opens a dos window, runs a bunch of text too fast to read, and shuts itself down.

You can't run it like that, it doesn't have a graphical interface. You have to start the DOS window as I described in my previous post and then you type commands.

I think you have a very steep learning curve ahead of you.

Pete

Once you do get a dos window runing with IM convert, you will also need a couple of extra files.. Color profiles. These files define the colormapping used within a JPEG or TIFF image. For some example of doing this see IM Examples, Color profiles
http://imagemagick.org/Usage/formats/#profiles