---
updatedAt: 2026-04-20T19:22:42.000Z
agentTools:
  siteIndex: https://techdocs.akamai.com/llms.txt
  projectIndex: https://techdocs.akamai.com/ivm/llms.txt
---

# Use query string parameters to apply transformations

The **[IMQuery](https://techdocs.akamai.com/ivm/docs/imquery)** transformation lets you control which transformations are possible using the IMQuery string. This is particularly useful if you want to allow a creative team to apply certain transformations without giving them access to your Image and Video Manager policies.

# Example of the impact on images

Here is an example of an image before and after a query string parameter was applied to change the background color to green.

```
https://www.akalunch.com/sandwichspecial/ham.png?im=BackgroundColor=abab50
```

**Original image**:

![original image](https://techdocs.akamai.com/ivm/img/unprocessed-sandwich-v1.png)

**With the query string parameter applied**:

![IMQuery string applied](https://techdocs.akamai.com/ivm/img/uc-query-string-param1a-v1.png)

[block:callout]
{
  "type": "info",
  "body": "Before you begin, you should know the URL of the image you are adding the watermark to, for example,\n```\nhttps://www.akalunch.com/sandwichspecial/ham.png.\n```"
}
[/block]

# How to

# Add IMQuery to your policy

1. Log in to ​Akamai Control Center​, then go to ☰ > **CDN** > **Image and Video Manager**.

2. Select the correct **Contract** from the list.

3. Create a new policy:

   * Click **+Create**, then click **Policy** on the menu that appears
   * Select the policy set to which you wish to add the new policy
   * Give your new policy a name, for example, "imquery\_background"
   * Click **Create**

   The Image Policy Editor opens.

4. Expand the list of **Transformations** by clicking **+**.

5. Click **IMQuery**.

6. Configure the settings as follows:

   * **Query Parameter Variable**. Select the default variable **im** or select **Add Variable** from the list to enter your own variable.

   * **Allowed Transformations**. Select only Background Color.

7. Click **Save and Test on Staging**.

# Add the IMQuery string parameter to an image URL

Now that you have configured the imquery-background policy to include the IMQuery transformation, you can control the background color of our image simply by changing the IMQuery string parameter.

To change the background color of the image to green, append the IMQuery string parameter **?im=BackgroundColor=abab50** to the URL:

```
https://www.akalunch.com/sandwichspecial/ham.png?im=Resize=(200,200);BackgroundColor=abab50
```

To change the background color to blue, change the string parameter to "?im=BackgroundColor=507eab"

![IMQuery string applied](https://techdocs.akamai.com/ivm/img/uc-query-string-param2-v1.png)

# Sibling pages

* [Adapt for slow connections](https://techdocs.akamai.com/ivm/docs/adapt-for-slow-connections.md)
* [Add text overlay to an image](https://techdocs.akamai.com/ivm/docs/add-text-overlay.md)
* [Add a company logo or watermark to an image](https://techdocs.akamai.com/ivm/docs/add-logo-watermark.md)
* [Convert Animated GIF to MP4](https://techdocs.akamai.com/ivm/docs/convert-animated-gif-to-mp4.md)
* [Create a mobile-friendly hero image](https://techdocs.akamai.com/ivm/docs/create-hero-image.md)
* [Crop around important faces or features](https://techdocs.akamai.com/ivm/docs/smart-crop-faces-features.md)
* [Create a scaled thumbnail](https://techdocs.akamai.com/ivm/docs/create-scaled-thumbnail.md)
* [Crop an image](https://techdocs.akamai.com/ivm/docs/crop-an-image.md)
* [Crop around a focal point](https://techdocs.akamai.com/ivm/docs/crop-around-focal-point.md)
* [Display images using the filename or path](https://techdocs.akamai.com/ivm/docs/display-using-path-or-filename.md)
* [Dynamically resize images](https://techdocs.akamai.com/ivm/docs/dynamically-resize-images.md)
* [Resize images to fit an image grid](https://techdocs.akamai.com/ivm/docs/resize-images-to-fit-grid.md)
* [Resize images using pristine image dimensions](https://techdocs.akamai.com/ivm/docs/resize-images-using-pristine-image-dimensions.md)
* [Reduce an image to fill a shape](https://techdocs.akamai.com/ivm/docs/reduce-to-fill-shape-diff-aspect-ratio.md)
* [Select a specific derivative image or video](https://techdocs.akamai.com/ivm/docs/select-specific-derivative.md)
* [Share a policy across multiple properties](https://techdocs.akamai.com/ivm/docs/shared-policy-sets.md)
* [Use a placeholder video](https://techdocs.akamai.com/ivm/docs/add-placeholder-video.md)
* [Validate optimization using Piez](https://techdocs.akamai.com/ivm/docs/validate-using-piez.md)