Save image on RAM and work on it using ImageMagick - php

Question

I am working on a project where the client can create dynamic image by merging different layers (images) into single image and then show that generated image to client. Currently my code is something like this
$output = uniqid().'.jpg';
exec('convert -size 600x800 xc:white '.$output);
$layers = array(//array of about hundreds of PNG images);
foreach($layers as $key => $singleLayer)
{
$layerIs = $singleLayer['image'];
$positionsXY = explode(',', $singleLayer['xy']);
exec('composite -geometry +'.$positionsXY[0].'+'.$positionsXY[1].' '.$layerIs.' '.$output.' '.$output);
}
$base64 = base64_encode(file_get_contents($output));
unlink($output);
return 'data:image/jpeg;base64,'.$base64;
In my above code, I am generating a white background image and then merging multiple PNG images on it these images are more than 100. While also saving this image every time a single layer is merged and then output the final image to client after deleting the generated image. This all takes about 15 seconds to do.
So, My Question is if ImageMagick has an option which can allow me to save image on ram instead of saving image on harddisk which in turn can speed up my processing?
Although I found this http://www.imagemagick.org/discourse-server/viewtopic.php?t=20295 but could not understand much of it that how can I implement it.

Answer 1

The easiest way to use ImageMagick in php is to use the ImageMagick extension & class. I would not recommend using the exec function for it.
So first off, converting the image and store it in a variable.
You say you are not used to variabled, but by your code it seems like you are, you might just not know it.
For example, your $output is a variabe. The variable contains the image after the output is made (if it succeeds).
Now, I'm not 100% sure what your layers array contains, if its images or paths to images, but I expect that its paths, so I'll go with that assumption.
Your first exec call does a convert, I don't think that is nessesery, cause you have no input, all you need is a "white image" from what I can see.
To do that, create a new image object with and create a new image which is the correct size and bg color:
$image = new Imagick();
$image->newImage(600, 800, "white");
You then loop through the layers as you do, but instead of exec you use the imagemagick image you created above:
foreach($layers as $key => $singleLayer) {
$layerIs = $singleLayer['image'];
$positionsXY = explode(',', $singleLayer['xy']);
// Each loop should load the image into a new imagemagick object, but we release it when the scope is exited.
$layer = new IMagick($layerIs);
$image->compositeImage($layer, Imagick::COMPOSITE_DEFAULT, $positionsXY[0], $positionsXY[1]);
}
When the loop is complete, the $image variable will contain the composited image, which you can return as you wish.
$image->setImageFormat('jpg');
return "data:image/jpeg;base64,{base64_encode($image)}";
Note: Code is not tested and written directly in browser. So it might need to be rewritten!