# Which type of PImage is created when LoadImage is used, and how can I ask it what it is?

**URL:** https://discourse.processing.org/t/which-type-of-pimage-is-created-when-loadimage-is-used-and-how-can-i-ask-it-what-it-is/45639
**Category:** Beginners
**Created:** [January 23, 2025, 1:25pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/which-type-of-pimage-is-created-when-loadimage-is-used-and-how-can-i-ask-it-what-it-is/45639 "2025-01-23T13:25:52Z")
**Posts on this page:** 2
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![MuddyGardener](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.processing.org/muddygardener/32/1719_2.png) [@MuddyGardener](https://discourse.processing.org/u/MuddyGardener)
#### Post date: [January 23, 2025, 1:25pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/which-type-of-pimage-is-created-when-loadimage-is-used-and-how-can-i-ask-it-what-it-is/45639/1 "2025-01-23T13:25:52Z")

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When you create a PImage using createImage, you specify the type as RGB, ARGB or ALPHA. When you create a PImage using loadImage, you do not.

So, two very closely related questions.

- What type of PImage is created, RGB, ARGB or ALPHA? Is there a default? Does it make a flying guess based on the contents of the file? Or…

- Where should I look, to find about whether/how I can interrogate a PImage about its image type? Assuming that’s a thing I might potentially be able to do. (Which it might not be.).

thanks!

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### Author: ![GoToLoop](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.processing.org/gotoloop/32/86_2.png) [@GoToLoop](https://discourse.processing.org/u/GoToLoop)
#### Post date: [January 23, 2025, 2:03pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/which-type-of-pimage-is-created-when-loadimage-is-used-and-how-can-i-ask-it-what-it-is/45639/2 "2025-01-23T14:03:38Z")

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Field PImage::[_format_](https://processing.github.io/processing-javadocs/core/processing/core/PImage.html#format).