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# 12.0.0

## Backwards incompatible changes

### Python 3.9

Pillow has dropped support for Python 3.9, which reached end-of-life in October 2025.

### ImageFile.raise_oserror

`ImageFile.raise_oserror()` has been removed. The function was undocumented and was only useful for translating error codes returned by a codec’s `decode()` method, which ImageFile already did automatically.

### IptcImageFile helper functions

The functions `IptcImageFile.dump` and `IptcImageFile.i`, and the constant `IptcImageFile.PAD` have been removed. These were undocumented helper functions intended for internal use, so there is no replacement. They can each be replaced by a single line of code using builtin functions in Python.

### ImageCms constants and versions() function

A number of constants and a function in `ImageCms` have been removed. This includes a table of flags based on LittleCMS version 1 which has been replaced with a new class `ImageCms.Flags` based on LittleCMS 2 flags.

Deprecated | Use instead
--- | ---
`ImageCms.DESCRIPTION` | No replacement
`ImageCms.VERSION` | `PIL.__version__`
`ImageCms.FLAGS["MATRIXINPUT"]` | `ImageCms.Flags.CLUT_POST_LINEARIZATION`
`ImageCms.FLAGS["MATRIXOUTPUT"]` | `ImageCms.Flags.FORCE_CLUT`
`ImageCms.FLAGS["MATRIXONLY"]` | No replacement
`ImageCms.FLAGS["NOWHITEONWHITEFIXUP"]` | `ImageCms.Flags.NOWHITEONWHITEFIXUP`
`ImageCms.FLAGS["NOPRELINEARIZATION"]` | `ImageCms.Flags.CLUT_PRE_LINEARIZATION`
`ImageCms.FLAGS["GUESSDEVICECLASS"]` | `ImageCms.Flags.GUESSDEVICECLASS`
`ImageCms.FLAGS["NOTCACHE"]` | `ImageCms.Flags.NOCACHE`
`ImageCms.FLAGS["NOTPRECALC"]` | `ImageCms.Flags.NOOPTIMIZE`
`ImageCms.FLAGS["NULLTRANSFORM"]` | `ImageCms.Flags.NULLTRANSFORM`
`ImageCms.FLAGS["HIGHRESPRECALC"]` | `ImageCms.Flags.HIGHRESPRECALC`
`ImageCms.FLAGS["LOWRESPRECALC"]` | `ImageCms.Flags.LOWRESPRECALC`
`ImageCms.FLAGS["GAMUTCHECK"]` | `ImageCms.Flags.GAMUTCHECK`
`ImageCms.FLAGS["WHITEBLACKCOMPENSATION"]` | `ImageCms.Flags.BLACKPOINTCOMPENSATION`
`ImageCms.FLAGS["BLACKPOINTCOMPENSATION"]` | `ImageCms.Flags.BLACKPOINTCOMPENSATION`
`ImageCms.FLAGS["SOFTPROOFING"]` | `ImageCms.Flags.SOFTPROOFING`
`ImageCms.FLAGS["PRESERVEBLACK"]` | `ImageCms.Flags.NONEGATIVES`
`ImageCms.FLAGS["NODEFAULTRESOURCEDEF"]` | `ImageCms.Flags.NODEFAULTRESOURCEDEF`
`ImageCms.FLAGS["GRIDPOINTS"]` | `ImageCms.Flags.GRIDPOINTS()`
`ImageCms.versions()` | `PIL.features.version_module()` with `feature="littlecms2"`, `sys.version` or `sys.version_info`, and `PIL.__version__`

### ImageMath eval()

`ImageMath.eval()` has been removed. Use `lambda_eval()` or `unsafe_eval()` instead.

### BGR;15, BGR 16 and BGR;24

The experimental BGR;15, BGR;16 and BGR;24 modes have been removed.

### Non-image modes in ImageCms

The use in `ImageCms` of input modes and output modes that are not Pillow image modes has been removed. Defaulting to “L” or “1” if the mode cannot be mapped has also been removed.

### Support for LibTIFF earlier than 4

Support for LibTIFF earlier than version 4 has been removed. Upgrade to a newer version of LibTIFF instead.

### ImageDraw.getdraw hints parameter

The `hints` parameter in `getdraw()` has been removed.

### FreeType 2.9.0

Support for FreeType 2.9.0 has been removed. FreeType 2.9.1 is the minimum version supported.

We recommend upgrading to at least FreeType 2.10.4, which fixed a severe vulnerability introduced in FreeType 2.6 (CVE 2020-15999).

## Deprecations

### Image._show

`Image._show` has been deprecated, and will be removed in Pillow 13 (2026-10-15). Use `show()` instead.

### ImageCms.ImageCmsProfile.product_name and .product_info

`ImageCms.ImageCmsProfile.product_name` and the corresponding `.product_info` attributes have been deprecated, and will be removed in Pillow 13 (2026-10-15). They have been set to `None` since Pillow 2.3.0.

## API changes

### Image.alpha_composite: LA images

`alpha_composite()` can now use LA images as well as RGBA.

## API additions

### Added ImageText.Text

`PIL.ImageText.Text` has been added, as a simpler way to use fonts with text strings or bytes.

Without `ImageText.Text`:

    from PIL import Image, ImageDraw
    im = Image.new(mode, size)
    d = ImageDraw.Draw(im)

    d.textlength(text, font, direction, features, language, embedded_color)
    d.multiline_textbbox(xy, text, font, anchor, spacing, align, direction, features, language, stroke_width, embedded_color)
    d.text(xy, text, fill, font, anchor, spacing, align, direction, features, language, stroke_width, stroke_fill, embedded_color)

With `ImageText.Text`:

    from PIL import ImageText
    text = ImageText.Text(text, font, mode, spacing, direction, features, language)
    text.embed_color()
    text.stroke(stroke_width, stroke_fill)

    text.get_length()
    text.get_bbox(xy, anchor, align)

    im = Image.new(mode, size)
    d = ImageDraw.Draw(im)
    d.text(xy, text, fill, anchor=anchor, align=align)

## Other changes

### Python 3.14

Pillow 11.3.0 had wheels built against Python 3.14 beta, available as a preview to help others prepare for 3.14, and to ensure Pillow could be used immediately at the release of 3.14.0 final (2025-10-07, PEP 745).

Pillow 12.0.0 now officially supports Python 3.14.

### Image.fromarray mode parameter

In Pillow 11.3.0, the `mode` parameter in `fromarray()` was deprecated. Part of this functionality has been restored in Pillow 12.0.0. Since pixel values do not contain information about palettes or color spaces, the parameter can be used to place grayscale L mode data within a P mode image, or read RGB data as YCbCr for example.

### ImageMorph operations must have length 1

Valid ImageMorph operations are 4, N, 1 and M. By limiting the length to 1 character within Pillow, long execution times can be avoided if a user provided long pattern strings. Reported by Jang Choi.