How to Flip an Image Vertically in ImageMagick

This article provides a quick guide on how to flip an image vertically using the ImageMagick command-line tool. You will learn the exact command-line flag required for a vertical flip, how it differs from a horizontal flip, and see practical examples of the command in action to help you efficiently process your images.

The Vertical Flip Flag: -flip

To flip an image vertically (reflecting it upside down along the horizontal axis) using ImageMagick’s convert command, you use the -flip flag.

Basic Command Syntax

magick convert input.jpg -flip output.jpg

Note: If you are using ImageMagick v7 or newer, the convert tool is built into the main magick command, so you can simply use magick input.jpg -flip output.jpg.

-flip vs. -flop

It is easy to mix up the two reflection flags available in ImageMagick. Here is a quick reference to keep them straight:

• -flip: Reflects the image vertically (top to bottom).
• -flop: Reflects the image horizontally (left to right).

Examples of Usage

If you want to perform a vertical flip on a PNG image named photo.png and save it as a new file, the command looks like this:

magick convert photo.png -flip flipped_photo.png

If you ever need to flip an image both vertically and horizontally at the same time, you can combine the flags in a single command:

magick convert photo.png -flip -flop symmetrical_photo.png