---
name: "PDF::Builder::Resource::XObject::Image::PNG"
section: "3pm"
platform: "linux"
package: "perl-pdf-builder"
version: "3.028-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/PDF::Builder::Resource::XObject::Image::PNG"
---

# PDF::Builder::Resource::XObject::Image::PNG(3pm)

Support routines for PNG image library (using pure Perl code) Inherits from PDF::Builder::Resource::XObject::Image

## NAME

PDF::Builder::Resource::XObject::Image::PNG - Support routines for PNG image  library (using pure Perl code)

Inherits from PDF::Builder::Resource::XObject::Image

## METHODS

### new

```
    $res = PDF::Builder::Resource::XObject::Image::PNG->new($pdf, $file, %opts)
```

Returns a PNG-image object. `$pdf` is the PDF object being added to, `$file` is the input PNG file, and the optional `$name` of the new parent image object defaults to PxAAA.

If the Image::PNG::Libpng package is installed, the PNG\_IPL library will be used instead of the PNG library. In such a case, use of the PNG library may be forced via the `"nouseIPL"` flag (see Builder documentation for `image_png()`).

**opts:**

- 'notrans' =\> 1

  No transparency -- ignore tRNS chunk if provided, ignore Alpha channel if provided.

- 'name' =\> 'string'

  This is the name you can give for the PNG image object. The default is Pxnnnn.

Remember that you need to invoke the image\_png method from Builder.pm in order to use this functionality.

### Supported PNG types

```
   (0) Gray scale of depth 1, 2, 4, or 8 bits per pixel (2, 4, 16, or 256
       gray levels). 16 bpp is not currently supported (a PNG with 16 bpp
       is a fatal error). Full transparency (of one 8-bit gray value) via
       the tRNS chunk is allowed, unless the notrans option specifies
       that it be ignored.
   (2) RGB 24-bit truecolor with 8 bits per sample (16.7 million colors).
       16 bps is not currently supported (a PNG with 16 bps is a fatal
       error). Full transparency (of one 3x8-bit RGB color value) via the
       tRNS chunk is allowed, unless the notrans option specifies that it
       be ignored.
   (3) Palette color with 1, 2, 4, or 8 bits per pixel (2, 4, 16, or 256
       color table/palette entries). 16 bpp is not currently supported by
       PNG or PDF. Partial transparency (8-bit Alpha) for each palette
       entry via the tRNS chunk is allowed, unless the notrans option
       specifies that it be ignored (all entries fully opaque).
   (4) Gray scale of depth 8 bits per pixel plus 8-bit Alpha channel (256
       gray levels and 256 levels of transparency). 16 bpp is not
       currently supported (a PNG with 16 bpp is a fatal error). The Alpha
       channel is ignored if the notrans option is given. The tRNS chunk
       is not permitted.
   (6) RGB 24-bit truecolor with 8 bits per sample (16.7 million colors)
       plus 8-bit Alpha channel (256 levels of transparency). 16 bps is not
       currently supported (a PNG with 16 bps is a fatal error). The Alpha
       channel is ignored if the notrans option is given. The tRNS chunk
       is not permitted.
```

In all cases, 16 bits per sample are not implemented. A fatal error will be returned if a PNG image with 16-bps data is supplied. The code is assuming standard "network" bit ordering (Big Endian). Interlaced (progressive) display images are not supported. Use the PNG\_IPL version if you need to support 16 bps or interlaced images.

The transparency chunk (tRNS) will specify one gray level entry or one RGB entry to be treated as transparent (Alpha = 0). For palette color, up to  256 palette entry 8-bit Alpha values are specified (256 levels of transparency,  from 0 = transparent to 255 = opaque).

Only a limited number of chunks are handled: IHDR, IDAT (internally), PLTE,  tRNS, and IEND (internally). All other chunks are ignored at this time. Certain  filters and compressions applied to data will be handled, but there may be  unsupported methods.

### usesLib

```
    $mode = $png->usesLib()
```

Returns 1 if Image::PNG::Libpng installed and used, 0 if not installed, or -1  if installed but not used (nouseIPL option given to `"image_png"`).

**Caution:** this method can only be used *after* the image object has been created. It can't tell you whether Image::PNG::Libpng is available in advance of actually using it, in case you want to use some functionality available only in PNG\_IPL. See the PDF::Builder **LA\_IPL()** call if you need to know in advance.