Change to ValueError when encoding an empty image by radarhere · Pull Request #9394 · python-pillow/Pillow

radarhere · 2026-01-13T12:57:24Z

>>> from PIL import Image
>>> im = Image.new("L", (0, 0))
>>> im.save("out.png")
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "PIL/ImageFile.py", line 660, in _save
    fh = fp.fileno()
AttributeError: '_idat' object has no attribute 'fileno'

During handling of the above exception, another exception occurred:

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
  File "PIL/Image.py", line 2592, in save
    save_handler(self, fp, filename)
  File "PIL/PngImagePlugin.py", line 1508, in _save
    ImageFile._save(
  File "PIL/ImageFile.py", line 664, in _save
    _encode_tile(im, fp, tile, bufsize, None, exc)
  File "PIL/ImageFile.py", line 682, in _encode_tile
    encoder.setimage(im.im, extents)
SystemError: tile cannot extend outside image

#9389 feels that this error is confusing. This PR takes the ValueError raised when saving a (0, 0) JPEG from #6159, and applies it generically when encoding images.

>>> from PIL import Image
>>> im = Image.new("L", (0, 0))
>>> im.save("out.png")
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "PIL/ImageFile.py", line 660, in _save
    fh = fp.fileno()
AttributeError: '_idat' object has no attribute 'fileno'

During handling of the above exception, another exception occurred:

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
  File "PIL/Image.py", line 2592, in save
    save_handler(self, fp, filename)
  File "PIL/PngImagePlugin.py", line 1508, in _save
    ImageFile._save(
  File "PIL/ImageFile.py", line 664, in _save
    _encode_tile(im, fp, tile, bufsize, None, exc)
  File "PIL/ImageFile.py", line 682, in _encode_tile
    encoder.setimage(im.im, extents)
ValueError: cannot write empty image

This changed error specifically occurs when encoding images, not when saving images. SGI, ICNS and ICO formats are still able to save (0, 0) images with this change.

This PR contains the following updates: | Package | Change | [Age](https://docs.renovatebot.com/merge-confidence/) | [Confidence](https://docs.renovatebot.com/merge-confidence/) | |---|---|---|---| | [pillow](https://github.com/python-pillow/Pillow) ([changelog](https://github.com/python-pillow/Pillow/releases)) | `<12.1.2,>=12.1.1` → `<12.2.1,>=12.2.0` | ![age](https://developer.mend.io/api/mc/badges/age/pypi/pillow/12.2.0?slim=true) | ![confidence](https://developer.mend.io/api/mc/badges/confidence/pypi/pillow/12.1.1/12.2.0?slim=true) | --- ### Release Notes <details> <summary>python-pillow/Pillow (pillow)</summary> ### [`v12.2.0`](https://github.com/python-pillow/Pillow/releases/tag/12.2.0) [Compare Source](python-pillow/Pillow@12.1.1...12.2.0) <https://pillow.readthedocs.io/en/stable/releasenotes/12.2.0.html> #### Documentation - Update 12.2.0 release notes [#9522](python-pillow/Pillow#9522) \[[@hugovk](https://github.com/hugovk)] - Add loader plugins: AMOS abk, Atari Degas, 40+ more obscure formats via Netpbm [#9482](python-pillow/Pillow#9482) \[[@bitplane](https://github.com/bitplane)] - Update Python versions [#9515](python-pillow/Pillow#9515) \[[@radarhere](https://github.com/radarhere)] - Jeffrey A. Clark -> Jeffrey 'Alex' Clark [#9513](python-pillow/Pillow#9513) \[[@aclark4life](https://github.com/aclark4life)] - Add release notes for [#9394](python-pillow/Pillow#9394), [#9419](python-pillow/Pillow#9419) and [#9456](python-pillow/Pillow#9456) [#9467](python-pillow/Pillow#9467) \[[@radarhere](https://github.com/radarhere)] - Add Amiga Workbench .info loader to 3rd party plugins list [#9459](python-pillow/Pillow#9459) \[[@bitplane](https://github.com/bitplane)] - Merge PFM documentation into PPM [#9434](python-pillow/Pillow#9434) \[[@radarhere](https://github.com/radarhere)] - Update macOS tested Pillow versions [#9431](python-pillow/Pillow#9431) \[[@radarhere](https://github.com/radarhere)] - Fix CVE number [#9430](python-pillow/Pillow#9430) \[[@hugovk](https://github.com/hugovk)] #### Dependencies - Update xz to 5.8.3 [#9523](python-pillow/Pillow#9523) \[[@radarhere](https://github.com/radarhere)] - Update libjpeg-turbo to 3.1.4.1 [#9507](python-pillow/Pillow#9507) \[[@radarhere](https://github.com/radarhere)] - Update libpng to 1.6.56 [#9499](python-pillow/Pillow#9499) \[[@radarhere](https://github.com/radarhere)] - Update freetype to 2.14.3 [#9485](python-pillow/Pillow#9485) \[[@radarhere](https://github.com/radarhere)] - Updated libavif to 1.4.1 [#9479](python-pillow/Pillow#9479) \[[@radarhere](https://github.com/radarhere)] - Updated harfbuzz to 13.2.1 [#9461](python-pillow/Pillow#9461) \[[@radarhere](https://github.com/radarhere)] - Update Ghostscript to 10.7.0 [#9469](python-pillow/Pillow#9469) \[[@radarhere](https://github.com/radarhere)] - Update harfbuzz to 13.0.1 [#9453](python-pillow/Pillow#9453) \[[@radarhere](https://github.com/radarhere)] - Update libavif to 1.4.0 [#9460](python-pillow/Pillow#9460) \[[@radarhere](https://github.com/radarhere)] - Update freetype to 2.14.2 [#9449](python-pillow/Pillow#9449) \[[@radarhere](https://github.com/radarhere)] - Update actions/download-artifact action to v8 [#9451](python-pillow/Pillow#9451) \[@[renovate\[bot\]](https://github.com/apps/renovate)] - Updated libpng to 1.6.55 [#9425](python-pillow/Pillow#9425) \[[@radarhere](https://github.com/radarhere)] #### Testing - Cleanup .spider extension in the same test where it is added [#9517](python-pillow/Pillow#9517) \[[@radarhere](https://github.com/radarhere)] - Run tests in parallel via tox for 3.5x speedup [#9516](python-pillow/Pillow#9516) \[[@hugovk](https://github.com/hugovk)] - Enable colour in CI logs [#9486](python-pillow/Pillow#9486) \[[@hugovk](https://github.com/hugovk)] - Update Ghostscript to 10.7.0 [#9469](python-pillow/Pillow#9469) \[[@radarhere](https://github.com/radarhere)] - Simplify TGA test code [#9477](python-pillow/Pillow#9477) \[[@radarhere](https://github.com/radarhere)] - Update tests to check for ValueError when encoding an empty image [#9464](python-pillow/Pillow#9464) \[[@radarhere](https://github.com/radarhere)] - Upgrade CI from `macos-15-intel` to `macos-26-intel` [#9454](python-pillow/Pillow#9454) \[[@hugovk](https://github.com/hugovk)] - Add check-case-conflict hook [#9446](python-pillow/Pillow#9446) \[[@radarhere](https://github.com/radarhere)] - Specify platform when pulling docker image [#9440](python-pillow/Pillow#9440) \[[@radarhere](https://github.com/radarhere)] - GHA: Cache libavif and webp builds for Ubuntu [#9437](python-pillow/Pillow#9437) \[[@hugovk](https://github.com/hugovk)] - Update macOS tested Pillow versions [#9431](python-pillow/Pillow#9431) \[[@radarhere](https://github.com/radarhere)] #### Other changes - Check calloc return value [#9527](python-pillow/Pillow#9527) \[[@radarhere](https://github.com/radarhere)] - Check all allocs in the Arrow tree [#9488](python-pillow/Pillow#9488) \[[@wiredfool](https://github.com/wiredfool)] - Reject non-numeric elements inside list coords [#9526](python-pillow/Pillow#9526) \[[@hugovk](https://github.com/hugovk)] - Move variable declaration inside define [#9525](python-pillow/Pillow#9525) \[[@radarhere](https://github.com/radarhere)] - Resize tall images vertically first [#9524](python-pillow/Pillow#9524) \[[@radarhere](https://github.com/radarhere)] - Avoid overflow by not adding extents together [#9520](python-pillow/Pillow#9520) \[[@hugovk](https://github.com/hugovk)] - Use long for glyph position [#9518](python-pillow/Pillow#9518) \[[@hugovk](https://github.com/hugovk)] - Raise an error if the trailer chain loops back on itself [#9519](python-pillow/Pillow#9519) \[[@hugovk](https://github.com/hugovk)] - Only read as much data from gzip-decompressed data as necessary [#9521](python-pillow/Pillow#9521) \[[@hugovk](https://github.com/hugovk)] - Allow None extents in C setimage() [#9504](python-pillow/Pillow#9504) \[[@radarhere](https://github.com/radarhere)] - Use critical sections to protect FontObject [#9498](python-pillow/Pillow#9498) \[[@colesbury](https://github.com/colesbury)] - Add ImageText.Text.wrap() to wrap text [#9286](python-pillow/Pillow#9286) \[[@radarhere](https://github.com/radarhere)] - Always call StubHandler open() when opening StubImageFile [#9412](python-pillow/Pillow#9412) \[[@radarhere](https://github.com/radarhere)] - Improved BCn overflow check [#9043](python-pillow/Pillow#9043) \[[@radarhere](https://github.com/radarhere)] - Image will never be None [#9512](python-pillow/Pillow#9512) \[[@radarhere](https://github.com/radarhere)] - Raise EOFError when seeking too far in PSD [#9388](python-pillow/Pillow#9388) \[[@radarhere](https://github.com/radarhere)] - Raise error if ImageGrab subprocess gives non-zero returncode [#9321](python-pillow/Pillow#9321) \[[@radarhere](https://github.com/radarhere)] - Allow for different palette entry sizes when correcting BMP pixel data offset [#9472](python-pillow/Pillow#9472) \[[@radarhere](https://github.com/radarhere)] - Ignore unspecified extra samples for TIFF separate planar configuration [#9514](python-pillow/Pillow#9514) \[[@radarhere](https://github.com/radarhere)] - Add PERF to lint and fix findings [#9510](python-pillow/Pillow#9510) \[[@hugovk](https://github.com/hugovk)] - Switch iOS back to macos-15-intel [#9509](python-pillow/Pillow#9509) \[[@radarhere](https://github.com/radarhere)] - Catch struct.error [#9505](python-pillow/Pillow#9505) \[[@radarhere](https://github.com/radarhere)] - Check PyCapsule\_GetPointer and PyBytes\_FromStringAndSize return values [#9508](python-pillow/Pillow#9508) \[[@radarhere](https://github.com/radarhere)] - Fix missing null dereference checks [#9489](python-pillow/Pillow#9489) \[[@wiredfool](https://github.com/wiredfool)] - CI: Retry failed downloads [#9506](python-pillow/Pillow#9506) \[[@hugovk](https://github.com/hugovk)] - Use PyModule\_AddObjectRef [#9503](python-pillow/Pillow#9503) \[[@radarhere](https://github.com/radarhere)] - Release reference to encoder on error [#9500](python-pillow/Pillow#9500) \[[@radarhere](https://github.com/radarhere)] - Fixed AVIF and WEBP dealloc [#9501](python-pillow/Pillow#9501) \[[@radarhere](https://github.com/radarhere)] - Check PyType\_Ready return values [#9502](python-pillow/Pillow#9502) \[[@radarhere](https://github.com/radarhere)] - Check if PyObject\_CallMethod result is NULL [#9494](python-pillow/Pillow#9494) \[[@radarhere](https://github.com/radarhere)] - Do not use palette from grayscale or bilevel colorspace when reading JPEG2000 images [#9468](python-pillow/Pillow#9468) \[[@radarhere](https://github.com/radarhere)] - If TGA v2 extension area specifies no alpha, fill alpha channel [#9478](python-pillow/Pillow#9478) \[[@radarhere](https://github.com/radarhere)] - Set image pixels individually on 32-bit Windows [#9492](python-pillow/Pillow#9492) \[[@radarhere](https://github.com/radarhere)] - Add error messages before returning NULL when encoding [#9493](python-pillow/Pillow#9493) \[[@radarhere](https://github.com/radarhere)] - Fix `_getxy` refcount leaks [#9487](python-pillow/Pillow#9487) \[[@hugovk](https://github.com/hugovk)] - Fix invalid test font [#9483](python-pillow/Pillow#9483) \[[@radarhere](https://github.com/radarhere)] - Add Exif tag "FrameRate" [#9470](python-pillow/Pillow#9470) \[[@zhiyuanouyang](https://github.com/zhiyuanouyang)] - Support reading JPEG2000 images with CMYK palettes [#9456](python-pillow/Pillow#9456) \[[@radarhere](https://github.com/radarhere)] - Simplify `setimage()` by always passing extents [#9395](python-pillow/Pillow#9395) \[[@radarhere](https://github.com/radarhere)] - If bitmap buffer is empty, do not render anything [#8324](python-pillow/Pillow#8324) \[[@radarhere](https://github.com/radarhere)] - Change to ValueError when encoding an empty image [#9394](python-pillow/Pillow#9394) \[[@radarhere](https://github.com/radarhere)] - Add FontFile.to\_imagefont() [#9419](python-pillow/Pillow#9419) \[[@fjhenigman](https://github.com/fjhenigman)] - \[pre-commit.ci] pre-commit autoupdate [#9450](python-pillow/Pillow#9450) \[@[pre-commit-ci\[bot\]](https://github.com/apps/pre-commit-ci)] - Use walrus operator [#9448](python-pillow/Pillow#9448) \[[@radarhere](https://github.com/radarhere)] - Only close file handle in ImagePalette.save() if it was opened internally [#9444](python-pillow/Pillow#9444) \[[@bysiber](https://github.com/bysiber)] - Fix `self.decode` typo [#9445](python-pillow/Pillow#9445) \[[@bysiber](https://github.com/bysiber)] - Fix BMP RLE delta escape reading from wrong file position [#9443](python-pillow/Pillow#9443) \[[@bysiber](https://github.com/bysiber)] - Correct error check when encoding AVIF images [#9442](python-pillow/Pillow#9442) \[[@radarhere](https://github.com/radarhere)] - Fix unexpected error when saving zero dimension images [#9391](python-pillow/Pillow#9391) \[[@radarhere](https://github.com/radarhere)] - Use uppercase format ID for PALM [#9435](python-pillow/Pillow#9435) \[[@radarhere](https://github.com/radarhere)] </details> --- ### Configuration 📅 **Schedule**: Branch creation - At any time (no schedule defined), Automerge - At any time (no schedule defined). 🚦 **Automerge**: Disabled by config. Please merge this manually once you are satisfied. ♻ **Rebasing**: Whenever PR is behind base branch, or you tick the rebase/retry checkbox. 🔕 **Ignore**: Close this PR and you won't be reminded about this update again. --- - [ ] If you want to rebase/retry this PR, check this box --- This PR has been generated by [Renovate Bot](https://github.com/renovatebot/renovate).  Reviewed-on: https://git.tainton.uk/repos/webexmemebot/pulls/579 Reviewed-by: Luke Tainton <luke@tainton.uk> Co-authored-by: renovate[bot] <renovate-bot@git.tainton.uk> Co-committed-by: renovate[bot] <renovate-bot@git.tainton.uk>

Change to ValueError when encoding an empty image

7e208cc

radarhere mentioned this pull request Jan 13, 2026

Confusing errors when saving zero-dimension images instead of clear validation #9389

Closed

hugovk merged commit 8004234 into python-pillow:main Mar 12, 2026
66 of 67 checks passed

radarhere deleted the empty branch March 12, 2026 19:07

radarhere mentioned this pull request Mar 12, 2026

Update tests to check for ValueError when encoding an empty image #9464

Merged

radarhere added a commit to radarhere/Pillow that referenced this pull request Mar 14, 2026

Added release notes for python-pillow#9394

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radarhere added a commit to radarhere/Pillow that referenced this pull request Mar 28, 2026

Added release notes for python-pillow#9394

ccf9863

hugovk added a commit that referenced this pull request Mar 28, 2026

Add release notes for #9394 and #9419 (#9467)

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Change to ValueError when encoding an empty image#9394

Change to ValueError when encoding an empty image#9394
hugovk merged 1 commit intopython-pillow:mainfrom
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radarhere commented Jan 13, 2026 •

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radarhere commented Jan 13, 2026 •

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