Python Programming for Biology: Bioinformatics and Beyond

Basic image operations

The first Python examples in this chapter will illustrate how we can use PIL to get hold of

pixmaps  from  the  data  stored  in  various  kinds  of  image  file.  The  data  can  then  be

manipulated,  if  required,  and  saved  back  again,  potentially  to  a  different  type  of  image

file. When working with images we often simply need to convert from one type of image

file to another, given computer programs are sometimes particular about the format. Also,

by  converting  we  can  sometimes  improve  storage  efficiency,  e.g.  going  from  an

uncompressed TIFF to JPEG.