ImageMagick is a command-line image processing toolkit that supports over 200 image formats and provides tools for resizing, cropping, converting, and manipulating images. Common use cases include generating thumbnails for web applications, batch converting images between formats, and automating image processing pipelines in development workflows. By the end of this guide, you will have ImageMagick installed and verified on your Rocky Linux system, ready for image processing tasks.
Rocky Linux 8, 9, and 10 all require the EPEL (Extra Packages for Enterprise Linux) repository to install ImageMagick, as it is not included in the default AppStream repositories. This guide covers both the EPEL package manager method and compiling from source for users who need the absolute latest version or custom build options.
Choose Your ImageMagick Installation Method
Rocky Linux offers two approaches to installing ImageMagick, each suited to different requirements.
| Method | Channel | Version | Updates | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DNF with EPEL | EPEL Repository | Rocky 8/9: ImageMagick 6.x; Rocky 10: ImageMagick 7.x | Automatic via dnf upgrade | Most users who want stable, tested packages |
| Source Compilation | GitHub Releases | Latest 7.x | Manual recompilation | Users needing the newest features or custom build options |
For most users, we recommend the EPEL method because it provides automatic security updates and requires minimal maintenance. However, source compilation becomes useful when you need features only available in the latest release or require specific build flags that the packaged version does not include.
Rocky Linux 10 includes ImageMagick 7.x from EPEL, which introduces the
magickcommand as the primary interface. Rocky Linux 8 and 9 include ImageMagick 6.x, which uses the legacyconvert,identify, andmogrifycommands. This guide provides version-appropriate verification commands for each release.
Method 1: Install ImageMagick via EPEL Repository
The EPEL repository provides tested, stable ImageMagick packages that integrate cleanly with Rocky Linux’s package management system. As such, this method offers the fastest path to a working installation.
Update Rocky Linux System Packages
Before installing new software, update your existing packages to ensure you have the latest security patches and dependency versions:
sudo dnf upgrade --refreshThis command refreshes the repository metadata and upgrades all installed packages. Depending on when you last updated your system, the process may take a few minutes.
Install the EPEL Repository
Next, add the EPEL (Extra Packages for Enterprise Linux) repository, which provides ImageMagick packages. Rocky Linux includes this repository in its extras collection, so you can install it directly with DNF:
sudo dnf install epel-releaseThis command works on Rocky Linux 8, 9, and 10. Once installation completes, DNF automatically fetches metadata from EPEL on your next package operation.
Install ImageMagick
With EPEL now enabled, you can install ImageMagick using DNF:
sudo dnf install ImageMagickDNF resolves and installs all required dependencies automatically. Additionally, the installation includes the core ImageMagick libraries and command-line tools. On Rocky Linux 10, DNF installs ImageMagick 7.x, while Rocky Linux 8 and 9 receive ImageMagick 6.x.
Verify the ImageMagick Installation
Once installation completes, verify that ImageMagick works correctly and check the installed version. Because the verification command differs between ImageMagick versions, use the appropriate command for your Rocky Linux release.
Rocky Linux 10 (ImageMagick 7.x):
magick --versionVersion: ImageMagick 7.x.x-x Q16-HDRI x86_64 https://imagemagick.org Copyright: (C) 1999 ImageMagick Studio LLC License: https://imagemagick.org/script/license.php Features: Cipher DPC HDRI Modules OpenMP(4.5) Delegates (built-in): bzlib cairo djvu fftw fontconfig freetype gslib gvc heic jbig jng jp2 jpeg jxl lcms lqr ltdl lzma openexr pangocairo png ps raqm raw rsvg tiff webp wmf x xml zip zlib zstd
Rocky Linux 8 and 9 (ImageMagick 6.x):
convert --versionVersion: ImageMagick 6.9.x-x Q16 x86_64 https://legacy.imagemagick.org Copyright: (C) 1999 ImageMagick Studio LLC License: https://imagemagick.org/script/license.php Features: Cipher DPC Modules OpenMP(4.5) Delegates (built-in): bzlib cairo djvu fontconfig freetype gslib gvc jbig jng jp2 jpeg lcms lqr ltdl lzma openexr pangocairo png ps raqm raw rsvg tiff webp wmf x xml zlib
The “Delegates” line shows the supported image formats. In particular, a longer list indicates broader format support, which depends on the libraries the build process detected.
Method 2: Compile ImageMagick from Source
Alternatively, compiling from source provides access to the latest ImageMagick release and allows custom build configurations. This approach requires more setup but gives you full control over features and optimizations.
Source compilation installs ImageMagick to
/usr/localby default, separate from system packages. This means you can have both the EPEL version and a source-compiled version installed simultaneously, though you should avoid this to prevent confusion. If you previously installed via EPEL, remove that version first withsudo dnf remove ImageMagick.
Install Build Dependencies
First, install the required development headers and libraries for image formats and optional features. The dnf builddep command installs all dependencies needed to compile the package, but it requires both EPEL and the CodeReady Builder (CRB) repository. Unlike the EPEL package method, source compilation needs CRB for the -devel packages.
Rocky Linux 9 and 10:
sudo dnf install epel-release
sudo dnf config-manager --set-enabled crb
sudo dnf builddep ImageMagick -yRocky Linux 8:
sudo dnf install epel-release
sudo dnf config-manager --set-enabled powertools
sudo dnf builddep ImageMagick -yIf the
dnf config-managercommand is not found, install thednf-plugins-corepackage first:sudo dnf install dnf-plugins-core.
As a result, the builddep command reads the package specification from EPEL and installs development packages for image formats (JPEG, PNG, TIFF, WebP), fonts, compression libraries, and build tools.
Download the ImageMagick Source Code
Next, create a build directory and download the latest stable release from the ImageMagick GitHub releases page. The following commands automatically detect the current version:
mkdir -p ~/imagemagick-build && cd ~/imagemagick-build
VERSION=$(curl -s https://api.github.com/repos/ImageMagick/ImageMagick/releases/latest | grep -oP '"tag_name": "\K[^"]+')
echo "Downloading ImageMagick version: ${VERSION}"
curl -fL "https://github.com/ImageMagick/ImageMagick/archive/refs/tags/${VERSION}.tar.gz" -o "ImageMagick-${VERSION}.tar.gz"Downloading ImageMagick version: 7.x.x-x
% Total % Received % Xferd Average Speed Time Time Time Current
Dload Upload Total Spent Left Speed
100 15.2M 100 15.2M 0 0 8.5M 0 0:00:01 0:00:01 --:--:-- 8.5M
Extract and Configure the Build
Now extract the downloaded archive and run the configure script to prepare the build:
tar -xzf ImageMagick-${VERSION}.tar.gz
cd ImageMagick-${VERSION}
./configure --with-modulesThe configure script checks for available libraries and generates the build configuration. The --with-modules flag enables dynamic loading of image format handlers, allowing ImageMagick to support additional formats without recompiling. Configuration typically takes 1-2 minutes.
checking for OpenSSL... yes checking for libpng... yes checking for libjpeg... yes checking for libtiff... yes checking for libwebp... yes ... configure: creating ./config.status config.status: creating Makefile Configuration complete. Type make (or gmake on some *BSD machines) to compile.
Review the configure output to verify that it detected your desired image formats. If a format shows “no” when you expect “yes,” install the corresponding -devel package and run ./configure again.
Compile and Install ImageMagick
After configuration succeeds, compile the source code using all available CPU cores for faster builds, then install to the system:
make -j$(nproc)
sudo make installCompilation time depends on your system’s CPU and memory. Typically, on a modern system with 4+ cores, expect 5-10 minutes. The -j$(nproc) flag uses all available CPU cores.
Update the Shared Library Cache
Once installation finishes, update the system’s shared library cache so the linker recognizes the newly installed libraries:
sudo ldconfigSpecifically, the ldconfig command scans the standard library directories (including /usr/local/lib where ImageMagick installs its libraries) and updates the runtime linker cache.
Verify the Source Installation
Finally, confirm that the source-compiled version works correctly:
magick --versionVersion: ImageMagick 7.x.x-x Q16-HDRI x86_64 https://imagemagick.org Copyright: (C) 1999 ImageMagick Studio LLC License: https://imagemagick.org/script/license.php Features: Cipher DPC HDRI Modules OpenMP(4.5) Delegates (built-in): bzlib cairo fftw fontconfig freetype heic jbig jng jp2 jpeg jxl lcms lqr ltdl lzma openexr pangocairo png raqm raw rsvg tiff webp wmf x xml zip zlib zstd
The version number should match what you downloaded. Source-compiled installations typically include more delegates than the packaged version because you control which libraries are available during the build.
Manage ImageMagick
Update EPEL Installation
Standard system updates include ImageMagick updates automatically. Therefore, to check for and apply available updates, run:
sudo dnf upgrade ImageMagickAlternatively, to see whether a new version is available without installing it, use:
dnf check-update ImageMagickUpdate Source Installation
Source installations require manual updates. Before updating, check the releases page for new versions and changelog entries that might affect your usage.
The following commands perform the update process step by step:
- Version detection: Fetches the latest version from GitHub and compares it with your installed version.
- Download: Retrieves the source archive for the new version.
- Build: Compiles the new version using all available CPU cores.
- Install: Overwrites the previous installation (no uninstall needed).
To update, navigate to your build directory and run these commands:
cd ~/imagemagick-build
# Check current and latest versions
VERSION=$(curl -s https://api.github.com/repos/ImageMagick/ImageMagick/releases/latest | grep -oP '"tag_name": "\K[^"]+')
echo "Current version: $(magick --version 2>/dev/null | head -1 || echo 'Not installed')"
echo "Latest version: ${VERSION}"
# Download new version
echo "Downloading ImageMagick ${VERSION}..."
curl -fL "https://github.com/ImageMagick/ImageMagick/archive/refs/tags/${VERSION}.tar.gz" -o "ImageMagick-${VERSION}.tar.gz"
# Extract and build
echo "Extracting source..."
tar -xzf "ImageMagick-${VERSION}.tar.gz"
cd "ImageMagick-${VERSION}"
echo "Configuring build..."
./configure --with-modules
echo "Compiling (this may take 5-10 minutes)..."
make -j$(nproc)
echo "Installing..."
sudo make install
sudo ldconfig
echo "Update complete. Installed version:"
magick --version | head -1When you run the update, you will see output similar to this:
Current version: Version: ImageMagick 7.1.2-10 Q16-HDRI x86_64 Latest version: 7.1.2-12 Downloading ImageMagick 7.1.2-12... % Total % Received % Xferd Average Speed 100 15.2M 100 15.2M 0 0 8.5M 0 0:00:01 Extracting source... Configuring build... checking for OpenSSL... yes checking for libpng... yes ... Compiling (this may take 5-10 minutes)... ... Installing... Update complete. Installed version: Version: ImageMagick 7.1.2-12 Q16-HDRI x86_64
If the version check shows that you already have the latest version, you can skip the remaining steps.
Basic ImageMagick Usage Examples
ImageMagick provides several command-line tools for processing images. On ImageMagick 7.x (Rocky Linux 10), use the magick command followed by the operation. In contrast, ImageMagick 6.x (Rocky Linux 8/9) uses individual commands directly.
Convert an image format:
# ImageMagick 7.x (Rocky 10)
magick input.png output.jpg
# ImageMagick 6.x (Rocky 8/9)
convert input.png output.jpgResize an image:
# ImageMagick 7.x (Rocky 10)
magick input.jpg -resize 800x600 output.jpg
# ImageMagick 6.x (Rocky 8/9)
convert input.jpg -resize 800x600 output.jpgGet image information:
# ImageMagick 7.x (Rocky 10)
magick identify input.jpg
# ImageMagick 6.x (Rocky 8/9)
identify input.jpgTroubleshooting
Command Not Found After Installation
If magick or convert returns “command not found” after installing via EPEL, verify the package installation:
rpm -q ImageMagickFor source installations, the commands install to /usr/local/bin. Consequently, verify this directory is in your PATH:
echo $PATH | grep -q /usr/local/bin && echo "Path OK" || echo "Add /usr/local/bin to PATH"Missing Image Format Support
If ImageMagick reports an unsupported format when processing images, check which delegates are compiled in:
# ImageMagick 7.x
magick --version | grep Delegates
# ImageMagick 6.x
convert --version | grep DelegatesSimilarly, common missing formats and their required packages include:
- HEIC/HEIF:
libheif-devel(EPEL) - WebP:
libwebp-devel - JPEG XL:
libjxl-devel(EPEL) - RAW camera formats:
LibRaw-devel(EPEL)
For source installations, you must install the missing development package and recompile ImageMagick. However, EPEL installations have their supported formats fixed by the package build.
Library Not Found Errors
If you see “error while loading shared libraries” after a source installation, the system has a stale library cache. To fix this, run:
sudo ldconfigIf the error persists, verify that the library search path includes /usr/local/lib:
cat /etc/ld.so.conf.d/*.conf | grep /usr/local/lib || echo "/usr/local/lib" | sudo tee /etc/ld.so.conf.d/local.conf
sudo ldconfigRemove ImageMagick
If you need to remove ImageMagick from your system, note that the process differs between installation methods.
Remove EPEL Installation
First, uninstall the package and remove unused dependencies:
sudo dnf remove ImageMagick
sudo dnf autoremoveThen verify the removal succeeded:
rpm -q ImageMagickpackage ImageMagick is not installed
Remove Source Installation
If you kept the build directory, use the Makefile to uninstall:
cd ~/imagemagick-build/ImageMagick-*
sudo make uninstall
sudo ldconfigIf you no longer have the build directory, you can manually remove the installed files from
/usr/local/bin,/usr/local/lib,/usr/local/include, and/usr/local/share/ImageMagick-7. Be careful not to remove files belonging to other software.
Finally, you can optionally remove the build directory. This command permanently deletes the source files, so back up any modified scripts first:
rm -rf ~/imagemagick-buildConclusion
You have successfully installed ImageMagick on your Rocky Linux system, gaining access to command-line tools for image format conversion, resizing, and manipulation. The EPEL method delivers automatic updates with minimal maintenance, while source compilation offers the latest features and customization. With ImageMagick now available, you can automate image processing tasks, integrate batch operations into scripts, and support a wide range of image formats in your workflows.