In Python I can't open some png images properly using PIL

Question

I have two png images and if i try to open them (here is the code)

from PIL import Image 

x = Image.open('png/x-tictactoe.png')
o = Image.open('png/o-tictactoe.png')
print(x)
print(o)

The first line opens the image normally as png, while the second line one automatically opens the image as jpeg

Here is the output:

"C:\Users\Delfino De Chicchis\PycharmProjects\TicTacToe\venv\Scripts\python.exe" "C:/Users/Delfino De Chicchis/PycharmProjects/TicTacToe/test.py"
<PIL.PngImagePlugin.PngImageFile image mode=RGBA size=860x898 at 0x27FA46330A0>
<PIL.JpegImagePlugin.JpegImageFile image mode=L size=880x1004 at 0x27FA67E8C10>

Process finished with exit code 0

I just want to open both files as png, in order to use RGBA to make transparent background.

Someone could help me please?

Answer 1

The extension of a file is not necessarily a proper indicator of its content - it is just a Windows concept. Most files have a recognisable "magic number", or "signature", at the start.

So, try dumping the contents your "unhappy" PNG file in hex, or opening it in an online hex editor like hexedit if you don't have a locally-installed hex tool available.

For PNG, you should see a valid PNG signature like this:

89 50 4e 47 0d 0a 1a 0a ... (in ASCII 50="P", 4e="N", 47="G")

For JPEG, you should see a valid JPEG signature, like this:

ff d8 ff ...