#201

Using sips - scriptable image processing system on MacOS.

Notes

TIL there’s a “scriptable image processing” tool hiding in the MacOS distribution: sips

This tool is used to query or modify raster image files and ColorSync ICC profiles. Its functionality can also be used through the “Image Events” AppleScript suite.

Note: sips -h and sips -H give much more information than man sips.

Inspecting Images

See sips -H for property details. CAn get individual properties, or to get all:

$ sips -g all examples/*.png
/.../LittleCodingKata/tools/sips/examples/example-original.png
  pixelWidth: 2514
  pixelHeight: 1658
  typeIdentifier: public.png
  format: png
  formatOptions: default
  dpiWidth: 144.000
  dpiHeight: 144.000
  samplesPerPixel: 4
  bitsPerSample: 8
  hasAlpha: yes
  space: RGB
  profile: Color LCD

Converting File Format

Use setProperty to change the format:

$ sips -s format jpeg examples/example-original.png --out examples/converted_format.jpg
/.../LittleCodingKata/tools/sips/examples/example-original.png
  /.../LittleCodingKata/tools/sips/examples/converted_format.jpg
$ sips -g all examples/converted_format.jpg
/.../LittleCodingKata/tools/sips/examples/converted_format.jpg
  pixelWidth: 2514
  pixelHeight: 1658
  typeIdentifier: public.jpeg
  format: jpeg
  formatOptions: default
  dpiWidth: 144.000
  dpiHeight: 144.000
  samplesPerPixel: 3
  bitsPerSample: 8
  hasAlpha: no
  space: RGB
  profile: Color LCD

Converting Image Dimensions

Re-sampling with a max limit, preserves aspect ratio:

sips -s format jpeg --resampleHeightWidthMax 1024 examples/example-original.png --out examples/converted_format_and_size.jpg

Batch Conversion

Either convert in-situ by not specifying an output:

$ sips -s format jpeg --resampleHeightWidthMax 1024 examples/*.png

Or target an output directory, and glob the input files:

$ sips -s format jpeg --resampleHeightWidthMax 1024 examples/*.png --out examples/batch1
/.../LittleCodingKata/tools/sips/examples/example-original.png
Warning: Output file suffix changed to jpg
  /.../LittleCodingKata/tools/sips/examples/batch1/example-original.png
/.../LittleCodingKata/tools/sips/examples/example-original2.png
Warning: Output file suffix changed to jpg
  /.../LittleCodingKata/tools/sips/examples/batch1/example-original2.png