---
title: "How to Format Image Type"
canonical: "https://docs.pbs.org/space/ITS/4423754/How+to+Format+Image+Type"
format: markdown
---
> Macro (toc)

## Overview

<span style="color: #172b4d">Format transform delivers an image that has the image format extension and/or quality specified by the user.</span>

The following is a sample string: https://image.pbs.org/path/to/file.jpg?format=<extension>&quality=<number>

## Parameters

| **Parameter** | **Description** |
| --- | --- |
| format | Tells ITS a format transformation is being requested with the provided extension.<br>Note:<br>- Format values accepted: `jpg, png, webp, or avif`
- :warning: **Note: Original image must be saved with RGB color mode when transforming to **`webp`** format. (Grayscale will result in display issues.)**
- Use "auto" if you want ITS to examine the image and determine what file type to return, based on the image's complexity.
  - :warning:** Note: **`avif`** format is not considered when "auto" is applied.**
- When `avif` format is applied, upscaling is automatically prevented, as this can lead to encoding time-outs. |
| quality (*optional*) | Specifies the quality of the image that is returned based on the provided number.<br>Note: This parameter only works with the `jpg` format and accepts values from 10-100 (10 being lowest quality and 100 being highest quality). |

## Examples

### Original Image

[https://image.pbs.org/test/my-image.jpg](https://image.pbs.org/test/7Sy3rBL-asset-mezzanine-16x9-xMYNIn3.jpg)

![image]()

### Image as a PNG

[https://image.pbs.org/test/my-image.jpg?format=png](https://image.pbs.org/test/7Sy3rBL-asset-mezzanine-16x9-xMYNIn3.jpg?format=png)

![image](media://3f51bf3f-4ef3-4e47-ab13-f2452c48a9ba)

### Image as a JPG with a quality of 10

[https://image.pbs.org/test/my-image.jpg?quality=10](https://image.pbs.org/test/7Sy3rBL-asset-mezzanine-16x9-xMYNIn3.jpg?quality=20)

![image](media://200fdeca-c84b-40e1-9d40-b497d88c9831)