Aspecta is not just a pretty face. Everything it can do through its visual interface, it can also do from the command line—which means you can script it, batch it, and let your AI assistant drive it without ever opening a window.

Basic Syntax

Aspecta file1 [file2 ...] [-Output=path] [-Format=jpg] [-Width=800]
       [-Height=500] [-Aspect=16:9] [-Mode=Fit|Fill] [-Quality=85]
       [-BitDepth=N] [-Grayscale] [-Hue=30] [-Saturation=20]
       [-Show] [-Display=None] [-Reset] [-Help]

Every bare argument (anything without a leading dash) is an input file. You can pass one file or many. The output location is specified with -Output=path; if omitted, Aspecta saves each result alongside the original with the new format extension.

Single File

When you pass a single file, Aspecta opens the GUI with that file loaded and any previously saved settings applied. You can tweak further and click Convert, or add command-line flags to override specific settings.

Multiple Files

When you pass more than one file, behavior depends on whether saved settings exist. If you have previously configured and saved settings (format, aspect ratio, quality, etc.), Aspecta batch-converts all the files silently using those settings—no window appears. If no saved settings exist, Aspecta prompts you to configure them first, then processes the batch.

Parameters

Settings Persistence

Aspecta saves your conversion settings—format, aspect ratio, quality, mode, and so on—to the Windows Registry whenever you convert an image. The next time you launch Aspecta, those settings are automatically restored. This is especially handy for batch processing: configure your settings once through the GUI, then drop multiple files on the shortcut and they all get converted the same way without any interaction.

If you want to wipe the slate clean and start over, pass -Reset on the command line. This removes all saved settings from the Registry.

Examples

Convert a PNG to JPEG

Aspecta photo.png -Format=jpg -Quality=90

Saves photo.jpg in the same folder at 90% quality.

Resize and Crop for a Facebook Cover Photo

Aspecta vacation.jpg -Output=cover.jpg -Width=820 -Height=312 -Mode=Fill

Resizes and crops to exactly 820x312, filling the frame completely with no bars.

Create a Square Thumbnail

Aspecta portrait.jpg -Output=thumb.jpg -Aspect=1:1 -Width=400 -Mode=Fill

Crops to square and resizes to 400x400.

Convert to Grayscale WebP

Aspecta color.png -Format=webp -Grayscale -Quality=80

Produces a small, grayscale WebP file.

Preview Settings Before Saving

Aspecta photo.jpg -Aspect=16:9 -Mode=Fill -Show

Opens the GUI with the image loaded and crop settings pre-applied. You can tweak further before clicking Convert.

Batch Convert Multiple Files

Aspecta IMG_001.jpg IMG_002.jpg IMG_003.jpg -Format=webp -Quality=80 -Display=None

Converts three files to WebP silently, saving each one alongside its original.

Batch Convert with Output Folder

Aspecta *.png -Output=C:\Converted -Format=jpg -Quality=85 -Display=None

Converts every PNG in the current folder to JPEG and saves the results in C:\Converted.

Reduce Bit Depth

Aspecta photo.jpg -BitDepth=8

Reduces the image to 8-bit color. If the source is already 8-bit or lower, Aspecta leaves it alone.

Batch Convert a Folder (PowerShell)

Get-ChildItem *.png | ForEach-Object {
    Aspecta $_.FullName -Format=jpg -Quality=85 -Display=None
}

Converts every PNG in the current folder to JPEG, silently.

Supported Formats

Input (Read)

JPEG, PNG, BMP, GIF, WebP, AVIF, HEIF/HEIC, TIFF, TGA, ICO, JPEG2000, PSD, SVG, PCX, PPM, and camera RAW formats (CR2, NEF, ARW, DNG, ORF, RW2).

Output (Write)

JPEG, PNG, BMP, GIF, WebP, AVIF, TIFF, TGA, ICO, JPEG2000, and PDF.

Exit Codes

Notes

Aspecta never modifies the original file. Even when no output file is specified, it creates a new file with the new extension. The only way to overwrite the original is to explicitly name it as the output file.

All parameter names are case-insensitive: -format=jpg and -Format=jpg are identical. Values with spaces must be quoted: -Output="My Photos\result.jpg".

Under the hood, Aspecta uses ImageMagick via the Magick.NET library, which is why it supports such a wide range of formats. Magick.NET is free and open source (Apache 2.0).