How to Use the Command 'gallery-dl' (with examples)

The gallery-dl command is a powerful tool designed to streamline the process of downloading image galleries and collections from multiple image hosting websites. Whether you’re looking to save your favorite art pieces, stock images, or comics for offline use, gallery-dl provides an efficient method to automate these downloads. It supports various sites, making it a versatile command-line tool for image handling tasks.

Use case 1: Download Images from the Specified URL

Code:

gallery-dl "url"

Motivation:

The primary motivation for this use case is to effortlessly download all images from a specified web page URL. Whether for research, inspiration, or personal storage, having images downloaded to your local machine can be highly beneficial. This method eliminates the need for manual saving, which is especially useful when dealing with large collections or galleries.

Explanation:

• gallery-dl: This is the command itself, invoking the gallery-dl tool.
• "url": This argument specifies the URL of the web page from which you wish to download images. The quotation marks around the URL ensure that the command interprets the entire URL as a single string, even if it contains special characters or spaces.

Example Output:

Upon executing the command, you will see progress updates in your terminal indicating the number of images being downloaded and their respective completion status. A directory is typically created on your local machine containing all the downloaded images in their original resolution and format.

Use case 2: Retrieve Pre-Existing Cookies from Your Web Browser

Code:

gallery-dl --cookies-from-browser browser "url"

Motivation:

Websites that require user login often present a challenge for automated download tools due to authentication barriers. Use this command option to streamline the process by retrieving previously stored cookies from your web browser, thus maintaining access to your session without re-entering credentials manually.

Explanation:

• gallery-dl: The command to initiate the download process.
• --cookies-from-browser: This option tells the command to fetch cookies from your specified web browser, which can include session cookies required for authenticated access.
• browser: Substitute this with the name of your browser (e.g., chrome, firefox) where the cookies are stored.
• "url": The target URL of the site from which you aim to download protected content. This ensures you remain logged in using the session data from your browser.

Example Output:

When employed, this command will output a successful download of images, similar to Case 1, but from authenticated sections of a site. The terminal will confirm cookie retrieval and authentication status before proceeding with the download.

Use case 3: Get the Direct URL of an Image from a Site Supporting Authentication with Username and Password

Code:

gallery-dl --get-urls --username username --password password "url"

Motivation:

This use case is particularly useful when you need direct links to images rather than downloading them immediately. It is advantageous in scenarios where you’d like to share image URLs or perform additional processing on images stored at these addresses. The command uses authentication to access protected images that wouldn’t be otherwise accessible.

Explanation:

• gallery-dl: The base command for executing the task.
• --get-urls: An option to retrieve and display the direct URLs of images instead of downloading them.
• --username username: This specifies the account username needed to authenticate the session.
• --password password: This provides the necessary password for the user account to gain access.
• "url": The URL of the site where images are hosted and which requires login credentials.

Example Output:

Executing this command yields a list of URLs displayed in the terminal. These links direct you to individual images that can be used for further operations like sharing or distributed downloading.

Use case 4: Filter Manga Chapters by Chapter Number and Language

Code:

gallery-dl --chapter-filter "10 <= chapter < 20" --option "lang=language_code" "url"

Motivation:

When dealing with vast manga collections, users often desire specific subsets of data, like particular chapters in a desired language. This use case focuses on applying filters to efficiently download only the manga chapters that meet specified criteria, saving both time and storage space.

Explanation:

• gallery-dl: This invokes the core functionality to begin processing the URL.
• --chapter-filter "10 <= chapter < 20": A sophisticated option that filters which chapters to download based on their number. The syntax implies that chapters 10 through 19, inclusive, will be targeted.
• --option "lang=language_code": This specifies the language of the manga to be downloaded. Replace language_code with the appropriate language code (e.g., en for English, jp for Japanese).
• "url": The URL of the manga or collection supporting chapter segmentation and language preference.

Example Output:

Running this command will result in a detailed output where only specified chapters and language preferences are acknowledged. You’ll see a structured download log filtering out any undesired content and notifying you of the chapters being processed and saved.

Conclusion

The gallery-dl tool provides a versatile set of commands for users needing to download images with varying requirements around authentication, filtering, and retrieval. By mastering its usage, individuals and professionals alike can enhance their workflows in handling vast image collections across the web, tailored to meet specific needs and preferences.