When reading your image, the format is determined implicitedly typically by the first few bytes of the file. However in some cases, the format cannot be determined. This is true for raw image formats such as RGB, GRAY, or CMYK. Typically you will only need to specify an explicit image format for raw images. Otherwise, do not explicitly choose the image format and it will be determined automatically for you.

These formats behave uniquely

    gradient
    plasma
    xc

in that the filename is a color or color range. For example, if you select the plasma format, you might define the filename as

    blue-yellow

Or suppose you want a red canvas that is 512 pixels in width and 480 pixels in height. Set Filename to red, Size to 512x480, and Format to xc.

For the pattern format, choose from these patterns (set the filename to one of these names):

    bricks
    checkerboard
    circles
    crosshatch30
    crosshatch45
    crosshatch
    fishscales
    gray0
    gray100
    gray10
    gray15
    gray20
    gray25
    gray30
    gray35
    gray40
    gray45
    gray50
    gray55
    gray5
    gray60
    gray65
    gray70
    gray75
    gray80
    gray85
    gray90
    gray95
    hexagons
    horizontal
    horizontalsaw
    hs_bdiagonal
    hs_cross
    hs_diagcross
    hs_fdiagonal
    hs_horizontal
    hs_vertical
    left30
    left45
    leftshingle
    octagons
    right30
    right45
    rightshingle
    smallfishscales
    verticalbricks
    verticalleftshingle
    vertical
    verticalrightshingle
    verticalsaw

Two additional formats include a granite texture and the netscape color cube:

    granite
    netscape

You might want to convert your image to a differing image format. Just select the appropriate format from the scroll list on the Output tool page and press output. For a complete list of image formats supported by ImaegMagick Studio see this page.