sxyazi/yazi · error

image is empty

Error message

image is empty

What it means

The image passed into sixel encoding has a zero width or height, so there are no pixels to encode. This is a precondition guard before spawning the blocking encoder; the faulting input is the decoded `DynamicImage` (e.g. a truncated or corrupt image that still decoded to an empty frame).

Source

Thrown at yazi-adapter/src/drivers/sixel.rs:52

	pub(super) fn image_erase(area: Rect) -> Result<()> {
		let s = " ".repeat(area.width as usize);
		Emulator::move_lock((0, 0), |w| {
			if let Some(c) = THEME.app.overall.get().bg {
				write!(w, "{}", SetBg(c))?;
			}
			for y in area.top()..area.bottom() {
				write!(w, "{}", MoveTo(area.x, y))?;
				write!(w, "{s}")?;
			}
			Ok(write!(w, "{ResetAttrs}")?)
		})
	}

	async fn encode(img: DynamicImage) -> Result<Vec<u8>> {
		let alpha = img.color().has_alpha();
		if img.width() == 0 || img.height() == 0 {
			bail!("image is empty");
		}

		let (qo, img) = tokio::task::spawn_blocking(move || match &img {
			DynamicImage::ImageRgb8(rgb) => Self::quantify(rgb, false).map(|q| (q, img)),
			_ => Self::quantify(&img.to_rgb8(), alpha).map(|q| (q, img)),
		})
		.await??;

		tokio::task::spawn_blocking(move || {
			let mut buf = vec![];
			write!(buf, "{START}P9;1q\"1;1;{};{}", img.width(), img.height())?;

			// Palette
			for (i, c) in qo.palette.iter().enumerate() {
				write!(
					buf,
					"#{};2;{};{};{}",
					i + alpha as usize,

View on GitHub (pinned to 5f901b886b)

Solutions

1. Check the source image for corruption or zero dimensions before previewing.
2. Skip sixel preview for empty images and let a text/other previewer take over.
3. Validate image dimensions after decoding and before dispatching to an adapter.

When it happens

Trigger: Thrown at yazi-adapter/src/drivers/sixel.rs:52 when the library encounters an invalid state.

Common situations: See trigger scenarios.

AI-assisted analysis of sxyazi/yazi@5f901b886b (2026-09-02). Data as JSON: /api/errors/52ad29b852cc9469. Report an issue: GitHub.