Learn how to encode images with Intervention Image, including support for various formats like JPEG, PNG, WebP, and AVIF. Discover versatile methods to encode by file path, media type, or file extension, with customization options.

Encoding Images

Encode Images with Encoder Objects

public Image::encode(EncoderInterface $encoder = new AutoEncoder()): EncodedImage

This method encodes the image with the given encoder object. The following encoders are currently available.

  • Intervention\Image\Encoders\AutoEncoder::class
  • Intervention\Image\Encoders\JpegEncoder::class
  • Intervention\Image\Encoders\WebpEncoder::class
  • Intervention\Image\Encoders\PngEncoder::class
  • Intervention\Image\Encoders\GifEncoder::class
  • Intervention\Image\Encoders\AvifEncoder::class
  • Intervention\Image\Encoders\BmpEncoder::class
  • Intervention\Image\Encoders\TiffEncoder::class
  • Intervention\Image\Encoders\Jpeg2000Encoder::class
  • Intervention\Image\Encoders\HeicEncoder::class

If no encoder is passed the AutoEncoder is used which will attempt to detect the output format automatically according to the original format of the image.

Parameters

Name Type Description
encoder (optional) EncoderInterface Image encoder with which the image is transformed

Example

use Intervention\Image\ImageManager;
use Intervention\Image\Drivers\Gd\Driver;
use Intervention\Image\Encoders\AutoEncoder;
use Intervention\Image\Encoders\WebpEncoder;
use Intervention\Image\Encoders\GifEncoder;

// create new manager instance with desired driver
$manager = new ImageManager(Driver::class);

// reading jpeg image
$image = $manager->read('images/example.jpg');

// encode as the originally read image format
$encoded = $image->encode(); // Intervention\Image\EncodedImage

// encode as the originally read image format but with a certain quality
$encoded = $image->encode(new AutoEncoder(quality: 10)); // Intervention\Image\EncodedImage

// encode jpeg as webp format
$encoded = $image->encode(new WebpEncoder(quality: 65)); // Intervention\Image\EncodedImage

// result will be gif format
$encoded = $image->encode(new GifEncoder()); // Intervention\Image\EncodedImage

Encode Images by Media (MIME) Type

public Image::encodeByMediaType(?string $type = null, mixed ...$options): EncodedImage

Encode an image to given media (mime) type.

If no media type is given the image will be encoded to the format of the originally read image's mime type.

Parameters

Name Type Description
type (optional) null or string Target media (MIME) type into which the image is encoded. By default the original media type is used.
options (optional) mixed Option parameters depending on the output format.

Example

use Intervention\Image\ImageManager;
use Intervention\Image\Drivers\Gd\Driver;
use Intervention\Image\MediaType;

// create new manager instance and read webp image
$image = new ImageManager(Driver::class)
    ->read('images/example.webp');

// encoded result will be the same as original
$encoded = $image->encodeByMediaType();

// encoded result will be the same as original but with low quality
$encoded = $image->encodeByMediaType(quality: 10);

// encoded result will be in progressive jpeg format
$encoded = $image->encodeByMediaType('image/jpeg', progressive: true, quality: 20);

// result will be in gif format
$encoded = $image->encodeByMediaType('image/gif');

// or use member of MediaType enum
$encoded = $image->encodeByMediaType(MediaType::IMAGE_GIF);

Encode Images by File Path

public Image::encodeByPath(?string $path = null, mixed ...$options): EncodedImage

Encode the image into the format represented by the extension of the given file path. Add an optional second value to set the resulting image quality. If no path is given the image will be encoded to the format of the originally read image.

Note that this method does not write the given path, but only uses this information to extract the target format.

Parameters

Name Type Description
path (optional) null or string File path from which the target format is extracted. By default the original file path is used.
options (optional) mixed Option parameters depending on the output format.

Example

use Intervention\Image\ImageManager;

// image file path
$path = 'images/example.png';

// create new manager instance and read from path
$image = new ImageManager::imagick() ->read($path);

// encoded format will be the same as original
$encoded = $image->encodeByPath();

// resulting format will be the same as original but with low quality
$encoded = $image->encodeByPath(quality: 10);

// resulting format will jpeg because "jpg" represents jpeg format
$encoded = $image->encodeByPath('images/example.jpg', progressive: true, quality: 10);

// result will be gif format
$encoded = $image->encodeByPath('images/example.gif');

Encode Images by File Extension

public Image::encodeByExtension(?string $extension = null, mixed ...$options): EncodedImage

Encode the image into the format represented by the given file extension. Define the image quality with the optional second parameter. If no extension is given the image will be encoded to the format of the originally read image.

Parameters

Name Type Description
extension (optional) null, string, FileExtension File extension that determines the target format. By default the original file extension is used.
options (optional) mixed Option parameters depending on the output format.

Example

use Intervention\Image\ImageManager;

// create new manager instance and read image
$image = new ImageManager::gd() ->read('example.jpg');

// resulting format will be the same as original
$encoded = $image->encodeByExtension();

// resulting format will be the same as original but with low quality
$encoded = $image->encodeByExtension(quality: 10);

// result will be jpeg format
$encoded = $image->encodeByExtension('jpg', progressive: true, quality: 10);

// result will be PNG format
$encoded = $image->encodeByExtension('png');

// alternatively use member of FileExtension enum
$encoded = $image->encodeByExtension(FileExtension::PNG);

Encoding with Shortcut Methods

There is a corresponding shortcut method for each image format, which can be called up directly from the image object.

Encoding JPEG Format

public Image::toJpeg(int $quality = 75, bool $progressive = false): EncodedImage

Encode the current image instance in JPEG format in the given quality ranging between 0 for low quality to 100 for best quality.

Parameters

Name Type Description
quality (optional) integer Encoding quality ranging from 0 to 100. By default 75.
progressive (optional) boolean Option to encode the image in progressive Jpeg format. Disabled by default.

Example

use Intervention\Image\ImageManager;
use Intervention\Image\Drivers\Gd\Driver;

// create new manager instance with desired driver
$manager = new ImageManager(Driver::class);

// reading gif image
$image = $manager->read('images/example.gif');

// encoding jpeg data
$encoded = $image->toJpeg(90); // Intervention\Image\EncodedImage

Encoding WebP Format

public Image::toWebp(int $quality = 75): EncodedImage

Encode the current image instance in the WebP graphic format in the given quality ranging between 0 for low quality to 100 for best quality.

Parameters

Name Type Description
quality (optional) integer Encoding quality. 75 by default.

Example

use Intervention\Image\ImageManager;
use Intervention\Image\Drivers\Imagick\Driver;

// create new manager instance with desired driver
$manager = new ImageManager(new Driver());

// reading gif image
$image = $manager->read('images/example.gif');

// encoding jpeg data
$encoded = $image->toWebp(60); // Intervention\Image\EncodedImage

Encoding PNG Format

public Image::toPng(bool $interlaced = false, bool $indexed = false): EncodedImage

This method encodes the current image instance in PNG format. Further details of the format can be defined via the parameters. It is possible to set the encoding method for the PNG image to interlaced, which means the image can be progressively rendered; non-interlaced sequential saving is used here by default.

The second option indexed determines whether the image is saved with an indexed (limited) color palette. With this option, the colors are automatically reduced, which results in smaller file sizes, but can also lead to a loss of quality in the coloring. By default, the encoder always outputs truecolor format.

Please note that the GD driver for PNG output with indexed color palette only supports binary transparency. This means that colors can either be completely transparent or completely opaque. Semi-transparency is not possible with GD.

Name Type Description
interlaced (optional) bool Option to encode the image interlaced. Disabled by default.
indexed (optional) bool Option for encoding PNG format with an indexed color palette. True color (non-indexed) by default. 
use Intervention\Image\ImageManager;
use Intervention\Image\Drivers\Gd\Driver;

// create new manager instance with desired driver
$manager = new ImageManager(Driver::class);

// reading jpg image
$image = $manager->read('images/example.jpg');

// encoding as truecolor png image
$encoded = $image->toPng(); // Intervention\Image\EncodedImage

// encoding png format with and indexed color palette
$encoded = $image->toPng(indexed: true); // Intervention\Image\EncodedImage

Encoding GIF Format

public Image::toGif(bool $interlaced = false): EncodedImage

Encode the current image instance in GIF format.

Caution: The signature has changed in version 3.1 by removing the parameter color_limit

Name Type Description
interlaced (optional) bool Option to encode the image interlaced. Disabled by default. 
use Intervention\Image\ImageManager;
use Intervention\Image\Drivers\Gd\Driver;

// create new manager instance with desired driver
$manager = new ImageManager(new Driver());

// reading jpg image
$image = $manager->read('images/example.jpg');

// encoding gif data
$encoded = $image->toGif(); // Intervention\Image\EncodedImage

Encoding Windows Bitmap Format

public Image::toBitmap(): EncodedImage

Encode the current image instance in Windows Bitmap format.

Caution: The signature has changed in version 3.1 by removing the parameter color_limit

use Intervention\Image\ImageManager;
use Intervention\Image\Drivers\Imagick\Driver;

// create new manager instance with desired driver
$manager = new ImageManager(Driver::class);

// reading jpg image
$image = $manager->read('images/example.jpg');

// encoding bitmap data
$encoded = $image->toBmp(); // Intervention\Image\EncodedImage

Encoding AV1 Image File Format (AVIF)

public Image::toAvif(int $quality = 75): EncodedImage

Encode the current image instance in AVIF format in the given quality ranging between 0 for low quality to 100 for best quality.

Name Type Description
quality (optional) integer Encoding quality. 75 by default. 
use Intervention\Image\ImageManager;
use Intervention\Image\Drivers\Imagick\Driver;

// create new manager instance with desired driver
$manager = new ImageManager(new Driver());

// reading jpg image
$image = $manager->read('images/example.jpg');

// encode avif image 
$encoded = $image->toAvif(60); // Intervention\Image\EncodedImage

Encoding TIFF Format

public Image::toTiff(int $quality = 75): EncodedImage

Encode the current image instance in TIFF format in the given quality ranging between 0 for low quality to 100 for best quality.

Name Type Description
quality (optional) integer Encoding quality. 75 by default. 
use Intervention\Image\ImageManager;
use Intervention\Image\Drivers\Imagick\Driver;

// create new manager instance with desired driver
$manager = new ImageManager(new Driver());

// reading jpg image
$image = $manager->read('images/example.jpg');

// encode tiff format
$encoded = $image->toTiff(60); // Intervention\Image\EncodedImage

Encoding JPEG 2000 Format

public Image::toJpeg2000(int $quality = 75): EncodedImage

Encode the current image instance in JPEG 2000 format in the given quality ranging between 0 for low quality to 100 for best quality.

Name Type Description
quality (optional) integer Encoding quality. 75 by default. 
use Intervention\Image\ImageManager;

// create new manager instance with desired driver
$manager = ImageManager::imagick();

// reading png format
$image = $manager->read('images/example.png');

// encode jpeg 2000 format
$encoded = $image->toJpeg2000(90); // Intervention\Image\EncodedImage

Encoding Heic Format

public Image::toHeic(int $quality = 75): EncodedImage

Encode the current image instance in HEIC format in the given quality ranging between 0 for low quality to 100 for best quality.

Name Type Description
quality (optional) integer Encoding quality. 75 by default. 
use Intervention\Image\ImageManager;

// create new manager instance with desired driver
$manager = ImageManager::imagick();

// reading png format
$image = $manager->read('images/example.jpg');

// encode heic image
$encoded = $image->toHeic(60); // Intervention\Image\EncodedImage

Handling of Encoded Image Data

The mentioned encoding methods return an Intervention\Image\EncodedImage object. With this instance you can decide how to proceed with the encoded data.

Cast Encoded Image Data to String

public EncodedImage::__toString(): string

This method can be used to obtain the raw image data as type string. This is particularly useful if it is to be further processed with other libraries or transferred to remote data storage (such as S3).

Example

use Intervention\Image\ImageManager;
use Just\An\Example\CloudStorage;

// create new manager instance with desired driver
$manager = ImageManager::imagick();

// resize gif image
$image = $manager
    ->read('images/example.gif')
    ->scale(height: 200);

// encode in jpeg format and cast result as string
$imagedata = (string) $image->toJpeg();

// save to imaginary data service
CloudStorage::put('example.jpg', $imagedata);

Saving Encoded Image Data in Filesystem

public EncodedImage::save(string $filepath, mixed ...$options): void

This method writes the object's data to the given path in the local file system. The respective folder structure must already exist and be writable.

Parameters

Name Type Description
filepath string Path to file in filesystem.
options (optional) mixed Option parameters depending on the output format.

Example

use Intervention\Image\ImageManager;
use Intervention\Image\Drivers\Imagick\Driver;

// create new manager instance with desired driver
$manager = new ImageManager(Driver::class);

// reading gif image
$image = $manager->read('images/example.gif');

// save progressive jpeg file in low quality
$encoded = $image->toJpeg()->save('images/test.jpg', progressive: true, quality: 10);

Creating Data URI scheme

public EncodedImage::toDataUri(): string

This method takes the already encoded image data and wraps it in an base64 encoded data uri scheme.

Example

use Intervention\Image\ImageManager;
use Intervention\Image\Drivers\Gd\Driver;

// create new manager instance with desired driver
$manager = new ImageManager(new Driver());

// reading gif image
$image = $manager->read('images/example.gif');

// encoding to gif data uri
$data_uri = $image->toGif()->toDataUri();

Transform Encoded Image to File Pointer

public EncodedImage::toFilePointer(): resource

Create a file pointer resource to handle the encoded image data.

Example

use Intervention\Image\ImageManager;
use Intervention\Image\Drivers\Imagick\Driver;

// create new manager instance with desired driver
$manager = new ImageManager(Driver::class);

// reading gif image
$image = $manager->read('images/example.gif');

// create file pointer
$pointer = $image->toJpeg()->toFilePointer();

Retrieve Media (MIME) Type of an Encoded Image

public EncodedImage::mediaType(): string

This method returns the media (MIME) type of the encoded image.

Example

use Intervention\Image\ImageManager;
use Intervention\Image\Drivers\Imagick\Driver;

// create new manager instance with desired driver
$manager = new ImageManager(new Driver());

// reading gif image
$image = $manager->read('images/example.gif');

// "image/jpeg"
$mimetype = $image->toJpeg()->mediaType();

Writing Images Directly

Encoding & Saving Combined

public Image::save(?string $path = null, mixed ...$options): ImageInterface

This method helps to initiate the saving process directly from the image object without having to go via an EncodedImage object and encodes & writes the image data in one call.

The resulting image format is defined by the file extension of the given path. If no path is given the format of the originally read image will be used. Define the image quality by using the second parameter.

The encoded image is saved at the given path in the local file system. The respective folder structure must already exist and be writable.

In contrast to the other encoding methods, save() returns an Image object instead of an EncodedImage object.

Parameters

Name Type Description
path (optional) null or string File path from which the target format is extracted. By default the original path is used.
options (optional) mixed Option parameters depending on the output format.

Example

use Intervention\Image\ImageManager;
use Intervention\Image\Drivers\Imagick\Driver;

// create new manager instance with desired driver
$manager = new ImageManager(Driver::class);

// reading jpeg image
$image = $manager->read('images/example.jpg');

// overwrite file at "images/example.jpg" with low quality
$image->save(quality: 10);

// encode jpeg as png and save in a new file
$image->save('images/example.png');

// encode & save progressive jpeg in low quality
$image->save('images/example.jpg', quality: 10, progressive: true);
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