sharp vs jimp vs image-js
Image Processing Libraries for Node.js Comparison
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What's Image Processing Libraries for Node.js?

Image processing libraries in Node.js enable developers to manipulate images in various ways, such as resizing, cropping, filtering, and converting formats. These libraries are essential for applications that require image manipulation, whether for web applications, mobile apps, or server-side processing. They provide a range of functionalities that can enhance user experience, optimize images for web performance, and automate image-related tasks in backend systems.

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sharp11,179,63630,215522 kB1164 days agoApache-2.0
jimp1,486,075-4.03 MB-7 months agoMIT
image-js24,136736802 kB1182 days agoMIT
Feature Comparison: sharp vs jimp vs image-js

Performance

  • sharp:

    sharp is known for its high performance and speed, utilizing native C++ libraries under the hood. It can process large images quickly and efficiently, making it the go-to choice for applications that require heavy image processing.

  • jimp:

    jimp is designed for simplicity and ease of use, but it may not be as fast as sharp for large-scale image processing tasks. It is best suited for smaller images or less demanding applications where quick and easy manipulation is needed.

  • image-js:

    image-js is a pure JavaScript library that may not be as fast as native solutions, especially for large images or complex operations. However, it provides a comprehensive set of features that can be beneficial for certain applications where performance is not the primary concern.

Supported Formats

  • sharp:

    sharp supports a variety of image formats, including JPEG, PNG, WebP, AVIF, TIFF, and GIF. It is particularly strong in handling modern formats like WebP and AVIF, which are optimized for web performance.

  • jimp:

    jimp supports common image formats such as JPEG, PNG, and GIF. While it covers the basics well, it may not support as many formats as other libraries, which could be a limitation for some projects.

  • image-js:

    image-js supports a wide range of image formats including JPEG, PNG, GIF, BMP, and TIFF. It also allows for advanced image manipulation and analysis, making it versatile for various use cases.

Ease of Use

  • sharp:

    sharp has a more complex API compared to jimp but is well-documented. While it may take some time to learn, its performance benefits and advanced features make it worthwhile for developers who need robust image processing capabilities.

  • jimp:

    jimp is designed to be user-friendly and easy to learn, with a straightforward API that allows developers to quickly implement image manipulation tasks without extensive background knowledge.

  • image-js:

    image-js has a steeper learning curve due to its comprehensive feature set and flexibility. It may require more understanding of image processing concepts to fully utilize its capabilities.

Memory Usage

  • sharp:

    sharp is optimized for low memory usage and high performance, making it ideal for applications that need to process large images or multiple images in a short amount of time.

  • jimp:

    jimp is relatively lightweight and has moderate memory usage, making it suitable for smaller applications or tasks that do not require extensive image processing.

  • image-js:

    image-js may consume more memory due to its pure JavaScript implementation, which can be a concern for applications processing large images or handling many images simultaneously.

Advanced Features

  • sharp:

    sharp includes advanced features like image resizing, rotation, and format conversion, as well as the ability to handle large images efficiently. It also supports progressive JPEGs and image optimization, making it a powerful choice for web applications.

  • jimp:

    jimp provides basic image manipulation features like resizing, cropping, and filtering, but lacks advanced functionalities found in other libraries, which may limit its use in more complex scenarios.

  • image-js:

    image-js offers advanced features such as image analysis, pixel manipulation, and support for complex image formats, making it suitable for applications that require detailed image processing capabilities.

How to Choose: sharp vs jimp vs image-js
  • sharp:

    Choose sharp if you require high performance and speed in image processing. It is optimized for speed and memory efficiency, making it suitable for applications that need to handle large images or perform batch processing. Sharp is also a good choice if you need advanced features like image conversion and format optimization.

  • jimp:

    Choose jimp for a simple and straightforward image processing library that is easy to use and has a gentle learning curve. It is ideal for quick tasks like resizing and basic image manipulation without the need for complex setup or configuration.

  • image-js:

    Choose image-js if you need a pure JavaScript solution that supports a wide range of image formats and offers advanced features like image analysis and manipulation. It is suitable for projects where you want to avoid native dependencies and have full control over image processing.

Similar Npm Packages to sharp

sharp is a high-performance image processing library for Node.js, designed to handle large images efficiently. It allows developers to resize, convert, and manipulate images in various formats with minimal memory usage and high speed. Sharp is particularly well-suited for server-side image processing tasks, making it a popular choice for web applications that require dynamic image manipulation.

While sharp is a powerful tool for image processing, there are several alternatives in the Node.js ecosystem that offer similar functionalities. Here are a few notable alternatives:

  • canvas is a Node.js library that provides a Canvas API similar to the HTML5 Canvas. It allows developers to create and manipulate images using a familiar API, making it suitable for tasks such as drawing graphics, text, and images. Canvas is particularly useful for applications that require custom graphics generation or manipulation, but it may not be as optimized for bulk image processing as sharp.
  • gm (GraphicsMagick) is a Node.js wrapper for the GraphicsMagick image processing library. It provides a comprehensive set of image manipulation features, including resizing, cropping, and format conversion. While gm offers a wide range of functionalities, it may not be as performant as sharp for large-scale image processing tasks, as it relies on the underlying GraphicsMagick library.
  • image-size is a lightweight library specifically designed to retrieve the dimensions of images without fully decoding them. It is useful for quickly obtaining image metadata, such as width and height, without the overhead of processing the entire image. While it does not offer extensive image manipulation capabilities like sharp, it can be a handy tool for applications that need to handle image uploads or previews.
  • jimp is a pure JavaScript image processing library that allows developers to manipulate images in a straightforward manner. It provides features such as resizing, cropping, and filtering, making it suitable for basic image processing tasks. However, jimp may not be as performant as sharp, especially when dealing with large images or high-volume processing.

To explore how sharp compares with canvas, gm, image-size, and jimp, check out the comparison: Comparing canvas vs gm vs image-size vs jimp vs sharp.

Similar Npm Packages to jimp

jimp is a popular image processing library for Node.js that allows developers to manipulate images with ease. It provides a simple and intuitive API for performing various image operations such as resizing, cropping, rotating, and applying filters. Jimp is particularly useful for projects that require server-side image processing without the need for complex dependencies or external libraries. Its pure JavaScript implementation makes it easy to integrate into any Node.js application.

However, there are several alternatives to Jimp that offer different features and capabilities:

  • canvas is a powerful library that provides a Node.js implementation of the HTML5 Canvas API. It allows for advanced image manipulation and rendering, making it suitable for projects that require more complex graphics and drawing capabilities. With canvas, developers can create and manipulate images, draw shapes, and even render text, making it a versatile choice for applications that need extensive image processing features.

  • gm (GraphicsMagick) is a Node.js wrapper for the GraphicsMagick image processing library. It provides a comprehensive set of features for image manipulation, including resizing, cropping, and format conversion. GM is known for its speed and efficiency, making it a great choice for applications that need to process large volumes of images quickly. Its extensive feature set and performance make it suitable for both simple and complex image processing tasks.

  • sharp is another high-performance image processing library for Node.js. It is built on the libvips library, which is known for its speed and efficiency. Sharp supports a wide range of image formats and provides features such as resizing, cropping, and image transformations. It is particularly well-suited for applications that require fast image processing and can handle large images with ease. Sharp's performance and versatility make it a popular choice among developers working with images.

To see how Jimp compares with canvas, gm, and sharp, check out the comparison: Comparing canvas vs gm vs jimp vs sharp.

Similar Npm Packages to image-js

image-js is a versatile JavaScript library designed for image processing in Node.js and the browser. It provides a wide range of functionalities, including image manipulation, analysis, and conversion. With a focus on performance and ease of use, image-js allows developers to work with images efficiently, making it a suitable choice for various applications, from simple image editing to complex image analysis tasks.

While image-js offers robust features for image processing, there are other libraries in the ecosystem that also provide similar functionalities. Here are a few alternatives:

  • jimp is a popular image processing library for Node.js that focuses on simplicity and ease of use. It allows developers to perform a variety of image manipulations, such as resizing, cropping, and filtering, using a straightforward API. jimp is particularly useful for projects that require basic image processing without the need for native dependencies. Its lightweight nature and straightforward syntax make it an excellent choice for quick image editing tasks.
  • sharp is a high-performance image processing library for Node.js that is built on the libvips library. It is designed for speed and efficiency, making it ideal for handling large images and performing complex transformations. sharp supports a wide range of image formats and offers advanced features like image resizing, rotation, and compositing. If performance is a critical factor for your application, especially when dealing with large-scale image processing, sharp is a powerful option to consider.

To see how image-js compares with jimp and sharp, check out the comparison: Comparing image-js vs jimp vs sharp.

README for sharp

sharp

sharp logo

The typical use case for this high speed Node-API module is to convert large images in common formats to smaller, web-friendly JPEG, PNG, WebP, GIF and AVIF images of varying dimensions.

It can be used with all JavaScript runtimes that provide support for Node-API v9, including Node.js (^18.17.0 or >= 20.3.0), Deno and Bun.

Resizing an image is typically 4x-5x faster than using the quickest ImageMagick and GraphicsMagick settings due to its use of libvips.

Colour spaces, embedded ICC profiles and alpha transparency channels are all handled correctly. Lanczos resampling ensures quality is not sacrificed for speed.

As well as image resizing, operations such as rotation, extraction, compositing and gamma correction are available.

Most modern macOS, Windows and Linux systems do not require any additional install or runtime dependencies.

Documentation

Visit sharp.pixelplumbing.com for complete installation instructions, API documentation, benchmark tests and changelog.

Examples

npm install sharp

const sharp = require('sharp');

Callback

sharp(inputBuffer)
  .resize(320, 240)
  .toFile('output.webp', (err, info) => { ... });

Promise

sharp('input.jpg')
  .rotate()
  .resize(200)
  .jpeg({ mozjpeg: true })
  .toBuffer()
  .then( data => { ... })
  .catch( err => { ... });

Async/await

const semiTransparentRedPng = await sharp({
  create: {
    width: 48,
    height: 48,
    channels: 4,
    background: { r: 255, g: 0, b: 0, alpha: 0.5 }
  }
})
  .png()
  .toBuffer();

Stream

const roundedCorners = Buffer.from(
  '<svg><rect x="0" y="0" width="200" height="200" rx="50" ry="50"/></svg>'
);

const roundedCornerResizer =
  sharp()
    .resize(200, 200)
    .composite([{
      input: roundedCorners,
      blend: 'dest-in'
    }])
    .png();

readableStream
  .pipe(roundedCornerResizer)
  .pipe(writableStream);

Contributing

A guide for contributors covers reporting bugs, requesting features and submitting code changes.

Licensing

Copyright 2013 Lovell Fuller and others.

Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may not use this file except in compliance with the License. You may obtain a copy of the License at https://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0

Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. See the License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations under the License.

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