Converting Images
 
 
 

You can choose from the standalones that let you convert image file formats:

Converting Image Files to Memory–Mapped Textures

The imf_copy standalone is used to convert image files to other formats including the format required to memory-map texture images into Softimage and the mental ray command line renderer.

For more information on memory mapping, see Using Memory-Mapped Textures [Texturing].

Usage

imf_copy [-v] [-p] inimage outimage [outformat [outtype]]

imf_copy supports the following file formats:

File format

Symbol

Supported data types

Wavefront image

rla

rgba (8-bit RGBA color and alpha)

SOFTIMAGE picture image (compressed)

pic

rgba (8-bit RGBA color and alpha)

Alias Research image

alias

rgb (8-bit RGB color)

SGI color (compressed)

rgb

rgba (8-bit RGBA color and alpha)

JFIF image

jpg

rgb (8-bit RGB color)

Portable pixmap

ppm

rgb (8-bit RGB color)

Targa image

targa

rgba (8-bit RGBA color and alpha)

MS Windows bitmap

bmp

rgba (8-bit RGBA color and alpha)

mi color texture

ct

rgba (8-bit RGBA color and alpha),

rgba_16 (16-bit RGBA color and alpha),

rgba_fp (floating-point RGBA color and alpha)

mi scalar texture

st

s, s_16 (16 bit mi scalar texture)

mi vector texture (from alpha)

vta

vta

mi vector texture (from intensity)

vts

vts

mi z channel (from intersect depth)

zt

z (depth information)

mi normal vectors

nt

n

mi tag channel (from material tags)

tt

tag

mi bit mask

bit

bit

4-component TIFF (compressed)

tif

rgba (8-bit RGBA color and alpha),

rgba_16 (16-bit RGBA color and alpha),

rgb (8-bit RGB color),

rgb_16 (16-bit RGB color)

uncompressed TIFF image

tifu

rgba (8-bit RGBA color and alpha),

rgba_16 (16-bit RGBA color and alpha),

rgb (8-bit RGB color),

rgb_16 (16-bit RGB color)

Dassault Systemes Catia format

picture

rgb (8-bit RGB color)

memory mapped raw texture file

map

any

Quantel/Abekas YUV image, 576x720

qntpal

rgb (8-bit RGB color)

Quantel/Abekas YUV image, 486x720

qntntsc

rgb (8-bit RGB color)

Options

-v

Activates verbose output.

-p

Creates a memory-mappable, filtered image pyramid.

Converting between Many File Formats

The imgconv standalone converts files between a wide variety of image file formats. It also provides a set of image processing tools such as blur, contrast, and zoom.

imgconv automatically detects supported image file formats, so input files do not require an extension (such as .pic) to identify their format. To specify the format of the output file, you can use either an extension (such as .tif) or the -format option.

The imgconv standalone can convert to any file format for which there is a dynamic link library (DLL on Windows systems). The setup program installs these DLLs to <install directory>/Application/bin/sil. When you type imgconv, the usage message lists the supported file formats.

To run imgconv, you must set the environment variable SI_IMAGE_PATH to point to the <install directory>/Application/bin/sil directory.

  • If SI_IMAGE_PATH is not set or empty, imgconv checks the environment variable SI_HOME.

  • If it is set, imgconv looks in SI_HOME/Application/bin/sil.

Usage

imgconv <input file> <output file> [-height <height>]
[-width <width>][-reduction <colormap size>]
[-format <name>][-compression <none|rle|lzw|packbits>]
[-description <string>]
[-processor <name> ["<arguments>"]][-verbose]
  • <input file> is the name of the file you want to convert or process.

Use a dash (-) to read from the standard input. imgconv automatically detects supported image file formats, so input files do not require an extension (such as .pic) to identify their format.

  • <output file> is the name of the output file.

Use a dash (-) to write to the standard output. To specify the format of the output file, you can either use an extension (such as .tif) or the -format option.

Options

-width

Specifies the width in pixels of output images. Used only for raw image formats with no image header.

-height

Specifies the height in pixels of output images. Used only for raw image formats with no image header.

-reduction

Specifies that output images must be color-reduced using the given color map size.

-format

Specifies the format to use for output images or for input images having no signature.

The usage message for imgconv lists the supported formats.

-compression

Specifies the compression technique used for output images.

-description

Specifies the description string to use for output images.

-processor

Specifies a processor name to apply to output images. Processor arguments must be enclosed in quotes.

The usage message for imgconv lists the supported processors.

-verbose

Activates verbose output.

NoteThere is no -script option available for imgconv despite what the usage message lists.