Converting image formats in Nautilus

Nautilus is the GNOME file-manager a.k.a. "Files"

In this post I will show you how to use the Image Converter Script in Nautilus to convert an existing image to another format.

What is the Nautilus Image Converter script ?

Nautilus Image Converter is a user-friendly script that allows you to convert images directly from the Nautilus interface, making it unnecessary to use complex command-line tools or separate applications.

This script supports popular formats including JPEG, PNG, and GIF, making it versatile for various image processing tasks.

For instance, if you are working on a website that requires PNGs but your images are in JPEG format, you can convert multiple images to PNG in just a few minutes.

Prerequisites for Using the Script

Before we jump into the installation process, ensure you have the following essentials ready:

1. Nautilus Installed: This script is tailored for the Nautilus (aka "Files") file manager, which comes pre-installed with the GNOME desktop environment.

2. ImageMagick and Zenity installed.

   The script operates using ImageMagick and zenity.

   
   

   ImageMagick is a powerful image processing utility.

Zenity is a powerful command-line utility that enables the creation of graphical dialog boxes and forms within shell scripts and terminal sessions.

You can easily install both using your distribution's package manager.

For example, if you're on Debian based distributions (Ubuntu, Mint etc), simply run:

sudo apt-get install imagemagick zenity 

If you're on Fedora based distributions, simply run:

sudo dnf install imagemagick zenity

Getting the Image Converter Script

Once your prerequisites are in place, follow these steps to install the Nautilus Image Converter script:

1. The script can be found here

   
   

2. Click the green "Code" button and select "Download ZIP"

   
   

3. Right-click on the downloaded file and select "Extract here"

   
   

4. Go to the extracted folder and open the terminal there.

   
   

5. Make the Script Executable: Ensure that the script is executable by running:

chmod +x ConvertImage.sh

Moving the script into a new folder

The script should be moved into a specific folder, so that Nautilus will automatically show it.

mv ConvertImage.sh ~/.local/share/nautilus/scripts/

Restart Nautilus

To see the script in action, restart Nautilus. You can do this by closing and reopening it, or by executing:

nautilus -q

Using the Nautilus Image Converter Script

Step 1: Select Your Image

Navigate to the folder containing the image you wish to convert. You can select one or multiple images, providing flexibility based on your needs.

Step 2: Access the Script

After selecting the image(s), right-click on them.

Hover over the “Scripts” menu

Click on “ConvertImage.sh”

Step 3: Choose Conversion Settings

A dialog will pop up, allowing you to specify your output format such as JPEG or PNG

Select the image format of your liking and click "OK"

Step 4: Locate Your Converted Images

Once the conversion is complete, the new image file(s) will usually be saved in the same directory as the originals, with the new file extensions reflecting your chosen format.

Tips for Efficient Image Conversion

Maximize the benefits of the Nautilus Image Converter script with these practical tips:

1. Batch Conversion: Select multiple images at once to convert several formats together. For example, if you have 10 JPEGs to convert to PNG, you can do this in one operation.

   
   

2. Explore Format Options: Familiarize yourself with the different formats available. For instance, if you’re creating graphics for a website, using PNG for images with transparency may be more effective than using JPEG.

   
   

3. Permissions: Ensure you have the right permissions to write to the folders where the converted images will be saved. This step helps to avoid any unexpected errors during the conversion process.

   
   

Troubleshooting Common Issues

While the Nautilus Image Converter script is meant to be straightforward, you might run into some common hurdles. Here are some tips to resolve them:

• Script Not Appearing: If you can’t find the script in the context menu, double-check that it’s in the correct directory and is marked as executable.

  
  

• Conversion Errors: If you face issues, confirm that ImageMagick is installed correctly. Running `convert --version` in your terminal should give you the details of the installed version.

  
  
  
  

Conclusion

The Nautilus Image Converter script is an invaluable tool for anyone regularly handling image conversions on Linux. Its integration with the Nautilus file manager makes it simple and accessible.