Automating image conversions

• Using the output script
• Using gulp directly

You can automate the conversion of images to various outputs. Then you only need to put high-res versions of your images in images/_source and run the automatic conversion to populate the images for all output formats.

This will automatically optimise, convert and save your images to the output folders, including specifying the correct colour profiles and creating multiple image sizes for web output.

Note: To do this on your computer, you need to have npm installed, and to have run npm install in the project root to install the node_modules. This can be done easily by running the ‘Update and install dependencies’ option in the run- output script for your operating system.

Using the output script

Run the run- output script for your operating system, then choose ‘Convert source images to output formats’ and answer the prompts.

Using gulp directly

Instead of using the output script, you can also use gulp directly from the command line.

By default, gulp will convert the images in your book/images/_source folder. To convert the images in a different book folder’s images/_source, say for my-potato-book:

gulp --book my-potato-book

Note: You can also use --folder instead of --book. They have the same effect. ‘Folder’ can be easier to remember when processing images in assets/images.

If you’re processing image files in a translation subdirectory, specify the language by its code. E.g.:

gulp --language fr

You can also combine these:

gulp --book my-potato-book --language fr