i'm having problems with the thumbnails that GD is generating

[lucas]

i have a php script that automatically generates thumbnails of larger pictures using GD.

it worked fine up until today, when it started producing thumbnails like this: http://www.extremesanity.com/messedup.jpg

the script hasn't changed, and the pictures haven't changed (i re-generated old pictures just to make sure it wasn't an anomaly). all i can think of is something changed when Steve upgraded php.

anyone know how to fix this?

[Steven]

hey lucas,
I will have this researched, can anyone else confirm that this is happening on their account(s)? Php was upgraded on October 17, so I don't think that that is the problem if this just started yesterday.

-Steven

[lucas]

let me clarify. the last time i generated thumbnails successfully was before the upgrade. i just now found the problem.

[pete3005]

I am using it on a site for the same purpose, I haven't experienced that problem myself.

Steven, if for any reason you go back to GD 1.x, can you tell me before, as the script I have will only work with GD 2 and will require some changes if you downgrade for any reason.

Thanks

Pete

[lucas]

well i switched to using ImageMagick. funny, it didn't work last time i tried to use it.

so i guess it works well enough. i would like to know what has changed in the upgrade that broke my script though.

[Steven]

See the only odd thing here is that both of you are on the same server, and it works for one person but not for the other. Lucas, what script are you using to generate these thumbnails? Pete, don't worry we will let you know if we downgrade GD.

-Steven

[lucas]

well we are using two different scripts ya know. his is probably optimized for the new and old versions of GD.

i'm pretty sure i know why GD isn't working as well; GD was upgraded with all the rest of the stuff which broke the script.

really i'm just curious if anyone knows what changed from the older version of GD to the newer version that started to make my thumbnails look like crud.

anyways here it is: http://www.extremesanity.com/PHPix202.zip

its a nifty barebones script that generates thumbnails on the fly using ImageMagick or GD.

like i mentioned before, its not a big deal because i got it working with ImageMagick fairly well, i'm now just curious what changed.

[lucas]

i found the problem

after searching around for the 5th time this week i finally found it.

ImageCreateTrueColor() should be used instead of imageCreate()

nice and simple huh? imageCreate worked fine in earler versions of gd but in the new version it will only generated 256 colors making jpegs look nasty.

http://www.php.net/manual/en/function.imagecreatetruecolor.php

[lucas]

oh, btw, i updated the zip file of the script with the changes if anyone else wants to use it.

[Steven]

Lucas,
Great job finding the problem and the solution. You are a quick learner and an overpaid slacker. Anyways isn't that an ostrich in your avatar or is it an emu?

-Steven

[lucas]

i *think* its an emu. all the pictures i've seen of ostriches show them with light skin heads, and the emus usually have black heads.