The spotlight usually focuses on the heavyweight Linux graphics tools such as GIMP, Shotwell, digiKam, Inkscape, and Krita. However, there are many other open source graphics tools that merit attention.
Linux offers a vast collection of open source small utilities that perform functions ranging from the obvious to the bizarre. It is the quality and selection of these tools that help Linux stand out as a productive environment. A good utility cooperates with other applications, integrating seamlessly.
Although command-line tools are very useful for updating, configuring, and repairing a system, their benefits are not only confined to system administration. The majority of the applications featured in this article are command-line tools. They are very light on system resources, fast and efficient, don’t rely on a windowing system, and are great for integrating with other applications and scripting.
The term lightweight is a label attached to computer software which is relatively simpler or faster than its counterparts. Feature bloat is endemic in software especially commercial software. Often, the easiest way to persuade users to upgrade to the latest version is to add new spangly features. This happens with open source software (to a lesser degree), and open source graphics software is not immune to feature bloat. Well, there is no feature bloat here!
To provide an insight into the quality of software that is available, we have compiled a roundup of small image tools that are incredibly useful.
Let’s explore the 15 small image tools at hand. For each title we have compiled its own portal page, a full description with an in-depth analysis of its features, a screenshot, together with links to relevant resources.
| Small Image Tools | |
|---|---|
| Rembg | Background segmentation tool using machine learning |
| imgp | Multi-core batch image file resize and rotate |
| ExifTool | Read, write and edit meta information |
| imagededup | Find duplicate images |
| Durdraw | ASCII, Unicode and ANSI art editor |
| pstoedit | PostScript and PDF files to editable vector graphics converter |
| potrace | Transforms bitmaps into vector graphics |
| jhead | Manipulate the non-image part of Exif compliant JPEG files |
| CropGUI | Graphical user interface for jpegtran |
| pngcrush | Optimizer for PNG files. It's a command-line tool |
| Picsort | Tool for sorting images into folders |
| imagineer | Offers image processing and conversion |
| truss | Image transformation toolkit |
| slimg | Fast image optimization tool |
| Pictures Converter | Convert image formats |
This article has been updated to reflect the changes outlined in our recent announcement.
 Explore our carefully curated directory of recommended free and open source software, covering every major software category.The directory forms part of our extensive collection of articles for Linux enthusiasts. It includes hundreds of detailed reviews, together with free and open source alternatives to proprietary software from companies such as Google, Microsoft, Apple, Adobe, IBM, Cisco, Oracle, and Autodesk. LinuxLinks also covers interesting projects worth exploring, Linux-compatible hardware, free programming books and tutorials, and much more. Know a useful free and open source Linux application that we haven’t covered? Tell us about it using our submission form. |
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Rembg looks interesting, something I’ll investigate