If you have ever worked with images in Python using the popular PIL library, you may have come across an issue where your image appears to rotate after using the thumbnail function. This can be a frustrating and confusing problem, especially if you are not familiar with the inner workings of PIL. In this article, we will explore the reasons why this may occur and how to fix it.
Before we dive into the root cause of this problem, let's first understand what the thumbnail function does. The thumbnail function in PIL is used to resize an image while maintaining its aspect ratio. This means that the original image will be scaled down to fit within the specified dimensions, without distorting the image's proportions. This is a handy feature when working with images on the web, as it allows for faster loading times without compromising on the image quality.
Now, let's get to the heart of the issue - why does PIL thumbnail rotate our image? The answer lies in the way PIL handles image orientation. In most cases, when we take a photo with our phones or cameras, the image is saved with additional information called EXIF data. This data contains details about the image, including its orientation. For example, if you take a photo in landscape mode, the EXIF data will indicate that the image should be displayed in landscape mode as well.
When we use the thumbnail function in PIL, it does not take into account the EXIF data of the image. Instead, it simply resizes the image to fit within the specified dimensions, which can result in the image appearing to be rotated. This is because the EXIF data is not being read, and the image is not being rotated accordingly.
So, how can we fix this issue? The solution is to use the rotate function in PIL before using the thumbnail function. By doing this, we are instructing PIL to read the EXIF data and rotate the image accordingly before resizing it. This ensures that the image is displayed in the correct orientation, and the thumbnail function works as expected.
Let's take a look at an example code to better understand this solution:
# Import PIL library
from PIL import Image
# Open the image
img = Image.open('image.jpg')
# Rotate the image according to its EXIF data
img = img.rotate(img._getexif()[274])
# Create a thumbnail with a width of 500 pixels
img.thumbnail((500,500))
# Save the resized image
img.save('resized_image.jpg')
As you can see, by using the rotate function before the thumbnail function, we have successfully resolved the issue of the image appearing to be rotated.
In conclusion, the reason why PIL thumbnail may rotate our image is due to its handling of EXIF data. To avoid this issue, it is crucial to use the rotate function before using the thumbnail function. This ensures that the image is correctly oriented and resized, providing a seamless experience for your users.
