identify.im6

identify.im6 [options] image_file [...]

-verbose
    Prints detailed information about the image, including all available attributes and metadata.

-format string
    Outputs formatted image properties according to a specified string of format codes (e.g., "%w %h" for width and height).

-ping
    Efficiently determines image characteristics (like dimensions, type) without reading the entire image data. Ideal for quick checks.

-regard-warnings
    Causes the command to exit with a zero status even if warnings are encountered during processing.

-size WxH
    Specifies the image size before it is read from disk. Useful for raw image formats that don't embed dimensions.

-list type
    Lists supported configurations or types, such as image formats, colorspaces, or compression algorithms.

-version
    Prints the ImageMagick version number and build details.

The identify.im6 command, part of the ImageMagick 6 suite, is a powerful utility used to determine the format and characteristics of one or more image files.

It reads image data and outputs comprehensive textual information, including image dimensions (width and height), depth, colorspace, compression type, resolution, size on disk, and EXIF/IPTC metadata. This command is particularly useful in scripting environments where automated image processing requires prior knowledge of an image's attributes, enabling intelligent decision-making before manipulation.

The .im6 suffix denotes this command belongs to the ImageMagick 6 series. While highly stable and widely used, its behavior and supported features may differ slightly from the newer ImageMagick 7 (often invoked as just identify or identify.im7). Users should be aware of potential incompatibilities when migrating scripts between IM6 and IM7 environments. Performance can vary significantly depending on image size and format, especially without the -ping option for basic metadata extraction.

identify.im6 is frequently used in shell scripts and programming languages to programmatically extract image metadata. This allows for automated decision-making, such as resizing images only if they exceed certain dimensions, or converting formats based on their original type. Its output, especially with the -format option, is easily parseable.

Upon successful execution, identify.im6 typically returns an exit status of 0. A non-zero exit status indicates an error, such as an invalid image file, permission issues, or unsupported format. This behavior is crucial for error handling in automated scripts.

ImageMagick, the software suite containing identify, was first developed by John Cristy in 1987. The identify utility quickly became a fundamental tool for inspecting image properties. ImageMagick 6, represented by identify.im6, was a predominant and stable version for many years, underpinning numerous image processing workflows on Linux systems, web servers, and in various applications globally. Its continued use is a testament to its reliability and extensive feature set.

convert(1), mogrify(1), montage(1), display(1), compare(1)