Use the IMQuery transformation to apply artistic transformations to images quickly and dynamically without having to create multiple policies, or having to update a policy for every change. You can add or remove transformations by appending the query string to the image URL.

This means other members of your organization do not need access to Image & Video Manager to transform images. They can do all the image manipulation they need to do on a per image basis through the image URL. It is up to you and any other administrators with access to Image & Video Manager to decide which transformations are possible.

For a usage example, see Use query string parameters to apply transformations.

How to:

  1. In ​Akamai Control Center​, go to > CDN > Image & Video Manager.

  2. Select the correct contract, policy set, and policy.

  3. Click "View/Edit on staging" to open the Image Policy Editor.

    📘

    You can also view and edit policies on production by selecting View/Edit policy on production, but it is usually best to test your changes on staging first.

  4. Expand the list of available transformations by clicking +.

  5. Select IMQuery.

  6. Configure the settings as follows:

    • Query Parameter Variable. Select the default variable im or select Add Variable to select your own variable.

    • Allowed Transformations. Select the transformations that can be applied using the query string parameter. For example, if you want to allow only various crops, you might select only Crop, Face Crop, Feature Crop, and Region Of Interest Crop. Developers can then use a query string to apply only the transformations selected.

Syntax and Examples

Once you have added the IMQuery transformation to your image policy, you can apply the allowed transformations to URLs using an IMQuery string.

How to:

  1. Open a browser and go to the URL of the image you wish to modify using one of the transformations in the table in IMQuery string examples.

  2. Append the IMQuery string to your image URL.

    You can include multiple transformations in one IMQuery string.
    For example:

    https://www.example.com/image.jpg?im=Resize=(400,400);BackgroundColor=abab50
    

    If you include multiple transformations, make sure that:

    • semi-colons are used to separate transformations
    • transformations occur in order in which they should be applied
    • URLs still comply with length restrictions imposed by browsers

    Also keep in mind that the length and complexity of an IMQuery string impacts the request processing time.

IMQuery string examples

The following table contains an IMQuery string example for each transformation type.

TransformationIMQuery string
AppendSyntax:
?im=Append,image=(url=<url_to_appended_image>)
Example:
https://www.example.com/image.jpg?im=Append,image=(url=https://www.example.com/image2.jpg)
Aspect CropSyntax:
?im=AspectCrop,(width,height),xPosition=<horizontal_position>,yPosition=<vertical_position>
Examples:
To center the cropped area while changing the image to achieve the requested aspect ratio:
https://www.example.com/image.jpg?im=AspectCrop=(1,3),xPosition=.5,yPosition=.5

To expand the image canvas to achieve the requested aspect ratio and position the fully transparent pixels at the above the image:
https://www.example.com/image.jpg?im=BackgroundColor,color=00ff00
Background ColorSyntax:
?im=BackgroundColor,color=<hex_color_value>
Example:
https://www.example.com/image.jpg?im=BackgroundColor,color=00ff00
BlurSyntax:
?im=Blur
Examples:
https://www.example.com/image.jpg?im=Blur

To specify the blur strength:
https://www.example.com/image.jpg?im=Blur=2
Composite (Watermark)Syntax:
?im=Composite,image=(url=<url_to_the_image_text_or_shape>)
Example:
https://www.example.com/image.jpg?im=Composite,image=(url=https://www.example.com/image2.jpg)
ContrastSyntax:
?im=Contrast,contrast=<contrast_level>
Example:
https://www.example.com/image.jpg?im=Contrast,contrast=0.5
CropSyntax:
?im=Crop,width=<width_to_crop>,height=<height_to_crop>
Examples:
https://www.example.com/image.jpg?im=Crop,width=150,height=100

To apply the Crop transformation using the size shortcut:
https://www.example.com/image.jpg?im=Crop,size=(150,100)

To apply the Crop transformation using the rect shortcut for xPosition, yPosition, width, and height. We've also included the gravity parameter to specify the placement or region of the crop within the image:
https://www.example.com/image.jpg??im=Crop,rect=(0,0,100,100),gravity=Center
Face CropSyntax:
?im=FaceCrop
Examples:
https://www.example.com/image.jpg?im=FaceCrop

To apply the deep neural network algorithm:

https://www.example.com/image.jpg?im=FaceCrop,algorithm=dnn
Feature CropSyntax:
?im=FeatureCrop,width=<width_to_crop>,height=<height_to_crop>
Examples:
https://www.example.com/image.jpg?im=FeatureCrop,width=500,height=200

To apply Feature Crop using a shortcut:
https://www.example.com/image.jpg?im=FeatureCrop,size=(500,200)
Fit and FillSyntax:
?im=FitAndFill,width=<resized_width>,height<resized_height>
Examples:
https://www.example.com/image.jpg?im=FitAndFill,width=400,height=500

To apply Fit and Fill using a shortcut:
https://www.example.com/image.jpg?im=FitAndFill=(400,500)
GoopSyntax:
?im=Goop
Example:
https://www.example.com/image.jpg?im=Goop
GrayscaleSyntax:
?im=Grayscale
Example:
https://www.example.com/image.jpg?im=Grayscale
Hue/Saturation/LightnessSyntax:
?im=HSL,hue=<hue_value>,saturation=<saturation_value>,lightness=<lightness_value>
Example:
https://www.example.com/image.jpg?im=HSL,hue=1,saturation=1.5,lightness=1.5
Hue/Saturation/ValueSyntax:
?im=HSV,hue=<hue_value>,saturation=<saturation_value>,value<lightness_or_darkness_value>
Example:
https://www.example.com/image.jpg?im=HSV,hue=0.5,saturation=2,value=1
Max ColorsSyntax:
?im=Maxcolors,colors=<number_of_colors>
Example:
https://www.example.com/image.jpg?im=MaxColors,colors=35
MirrorSyntax:
?im=Mirror,horizontal
Example:
https://www.example.com/image.jpg?im=Mirror,horizontal
OpacitySyntax:
?im=Opacity=<opacity_value>
Example:
https://www.example.com/image.jpg?im=Opacity=0.5
Region of Interest CropSyntax:
?im=RegionOfInterestCrop,width=<roi_width_value>,height=<roi_height_value>,regionOfInterest=width=<width_value>,height=<height_value>
Examples:
https://www.example.com/image.jpg?im=RegionOfInterestCrop,width=400,height=300,regionOfInterest=(150,200)

To apply RegionOfInterestCrop using a shortcut:
https://www.example.com/image.jpg?im=RegionOfInterestCrop=(400,300),regionOfInterest=(150,200)
Relative CropSyntax:
?im=RelativeCrop,north=<north_value>,south=<south_value>
Example:
https://www.example.com/image.jpg?im=RelativeCrop,north=10,south=10
ResizeSyntax:
?im=Resize,width=<resized_width>,height=<resized_height>
Examples:
https://www.example.com/image.jpg?im=Resize,width=250,height=125

To apply the Resize transformation using a shortcut:
https://www.example.com/image.jpg?im=Resize=(250,125)
RotateSyntax:
?im=Rotate,degrees=<rotate_degrees>
Example:
https://www.example.com/image.jpg?im=Rotate,degrees=13
ScaleSyntax:
?im=Scale,width=<width_value>,height=<height_value>
Example:
https://www.example.com/image.jpg?im=Scale,width=0.5,height=0.5
ShearSyntax:
?im=Shear,xShear=<xShear_value>,yShear=<yShear_value>
Example:
https://www.example.com/image.jpg?im=Shear,xShear=0.1,yShear=0.1
TrimSyntax:
?im=Trim,fuzz=<fuzz_value>,padding=<padding_value>
Example:
https://www.example.com/image.jpg?im=Trim,fuzz=0.5,padding=20
Unsharp MaskSyntax:
?im=UnsharpMask,gain=<mask_value>,threshold=<threshold_value>
Example:
https://www.example.com/image.jpg?im=UnsharpMask,gain=2.0,threshold=0.08