Phatch
Encyclopedia
Phatch is a raster graphics editor
used to batch process digital graphics and photographs. Phatch can be used on the desktop as a GUI program or on the server as a console program.
Typical actions include resizing, rotating, cropping, converting, applying shadows, rounded corners, perspective, reflection and converting between different image formats. Phatch can also be used to rename or copy image files based on the exif or IPTC Information Interchange Model
tags.
The image inspector can be used to explore the metadata tags stored in images. The tabs can be passed to any action, which is especially useful for renaming or copying files, but also for data stamping such as date, time, aperture or shutter speed on the picture. Multiple inspectors can be opened at once to compare tag values with a preview of the image.
Phatch can turn itself into a droplet which stays a small graphic on top of the other windows. It processes any images which are dragged and dropped on it.
Phatch has a built in interactive Python console to explore the internals of the program.
. The logo, mascot and some icons are designed by Admiror Design Studio. The other icons are taken from the Open Clip Art Library
. The image processing of Phatch is done with the Python Imaging Library
. Phatch uses Bazaar in combination with Launchpad
for coordinating its development and translations. Phatch has a Python
API and is extensible through Python.
distributions such as Debian
, Ubuntu
, ArchLinux, Fedora
and OpenSuse
. Phatch requires Python
, Python Imaging Library
and wxPython
(2.6 or more) for the GUI. Users can install pyexiv2 for better exif and IPTC IIM support.
's editor's review of Phatch 0.0.bzr157 overall awarded 4 stars, highlighting the clean and simple interface, program stability, and batch processing actions. Allowing the user to use Python to create additional batch process was also seen as an advantage over similar products. Criticisms included the lack of a help file or preferences menu. Some processes such as "Convert Mode" caused errors that were not reported to the error log.
It was the opinion of Linux Pratique magazine that Phatch 0.1.3 filled the gap between GIMP
and Imagemagick
, with a user-friendly interface saving a lot of time for batch processing. However, overall it was felt that it offered less features than these two programs.
Phatch 0.1.6 was featured together with GIMP on the front page of Linux+ magazine, May 2009.
style; see www.thephatch.com.
Raster graphics editor
A raster graphics editor is a computer program that allows users to paint and edit pictures interactively on the computer screen and save them in one of many popular “bitmap” or “raster” formats such as JPEG, PNG, GIF and TIFF....
used to batch process digital graphics and photographs. Phatch can be used on the desktop as a GUI program or on the server as a console program.
Operation
IPTC Information Interchange Model
The Information Interchange Model is a file structure and set of metadata attributes that can be applied to text, images and other media types...
tags.
Phatch can turn itself into a droplet which stays a small graphic on top of the other windows. It processes any images which are dragged and dropped on it.
Development
Phatch is being developed on GNU Linux (Ubuntu) by Stani MichielsStani Michiels
Stani Michiels is a visual artist and architect, who was born in 1973 in Geel . He lives and works in the Netherlands . Stani got a masters degree in architecture at the Catholic University of Leuven...
. The logo, mascot and some icons are designed by Admiror Design Studio. The other icons are taken from the Open Clip Art Library
Open Clip Art Library
The Open Clip Art Library project aims to create a collection of vector clip art that is free content.- History :The project started in early 2004 by Inkscape developers Jon Phillips and Bryce Harrington to collect designs of flags from all around the world, having been inspired by the efforts to...
. The image processing of Phatch is done with the Python Imaging Library
Python Imaging Library
Python Imaging Library is an external library for the Python programming language that adds support for opening, manipulating, and saving many different image file formats...
. Phatch uses Bazaar in combination with Launchpad
Launchpad (website)
Launchpad is a web application and website that allow users to develop and maintain software, particularly free software. Launchpad is developed and maintained by Canonical Ltd....
for coordinating its development and translations. Phatch has a Python
Python (programming language)
Python is a general-purpose, high-level programming language whose design philosophy emphasizes code readability. Python claims to "[combine] remarkable power with very clear syntax", and its standard library is large and comprehensive...
API and is extensible through Python.
Limitations
Phatch does not provide a live preview of the image manipulation and has no built in support for remote file systems. Although Phatch runs from source on Windows and Mac Os X, there are no binary installers available for these platforms.Distribution
The source code of Phatch is released on its homepage. Binary packages are available in the repositories of the major LinuxLinux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
distributions such as Debian
Debian
Debian is a computer operating system composed of software packages released as free and open source software primarily under the GNU General Public License along with other free software licenses. Debian GNU/Linux, which includes the GNU OS tools and Linux kernel, is a popular and influential...
, Ubuntu
Ubuntu (operating system)
Ubuntu is a computer operating system based on the Debian Linux distribution and distributed as free and open source software. It is named after the Southern African philosophy of Ubuntu...
, ArchLinux, Fedora
Fedora (operating system)
Fedora is a RPM-based, general purpose collection of software, including an operating system based on the Linux kernel, developed by the community-supported Fedora Project and sponsored by Red Hat...
and OpenSuse
OpenSUSE
openSUSE is a general purpose operating system built on top of the Linux kernel, developed by the community-supported openSUSE Project and sponsored by SUSE...
. Phatch requires Python
Python (programming language)
Python is a general-purpose, high-level programming language whose design philosophy emphasizes code readability. Python claims to "[combine] remarkable power with very clear syntax", and its standard library is large and comprehensive...
, Python Imaging Library
Python Imaging Library
Python Imaging Library is an external library for the Python programming language that adds support for opening, manipulating, and saving many different image file formats...
and wxPython
WxPython
-External links:* * at showmedo...
(2.6 or more) for the GUI. Users can install pyexiv2 for better exif and IPTC IIM support.
Critical reception
SoftpediaSoftpedia
Softpedia is an Internet web site that indexes information and provides software downloads. The site also covers major technology, science, health, and entertainment news from both external and in-house sources and provides software and game reviews. , it is one of the top 500 websites according to...
's editor's review of Phatch 0.0.bzr157 overall awarded 4 stars, highlighting the clean and simple interface, program stability, and batch processing actions. Allowing the user to use Python to create additional batch process was also seen as an advantage over similar products. Criticisms included the lack of a help file or preferences menu. Some processes such as "Convert Mode" caused errors that were not reported to the error log.
It was the opinion of Linux Pratique magazine that Phatch 0.1.3 filled the gap between GIMP
GIMP
GIMP is a free software raster graphics editor. It is primarily employed as an image retouching and editing tool and is freely available in versions tailored for most popular operating systems including Microsoft Windows, Apple Mac OS X, and Linux.In addition to detailed image retouching and...
and Imagemagick
ImageMagick
ImageMagick is an open source software suite for displaying, converting, and editing raster image files. It can read and write over 100 image file formats. ImageMagick is licensed under the Apache 2.0 license.- Features and capabilities:...
, with a user-friendly interface saving a lot of time for batch processing. However, overall it was felt that it offered less features than these two programs.
Phatch 0.1.6 was featured together with GIMP on the front page of Linux+ magazine, May 2009.
Other uses of term
Phatch (Fa'-ch) (PHone & wATCH) is also used as a brand name for a combination cell phone/smart phone and wrist watch, similar to a Dick TracyDick Tracy
Dick Tracy is a comic strip featuring Dick Tracy, a hard-hitting, fast-shooting and intelligent police detective. Created by Chester Gould, the strip made its debut on October 4, 1931, in the Detroit Mirror. It was distributed by the Chicago Tribune New York News Syndicate...
style; see www.thephatch.com.