"Unable to import module 'lambda_function': cannot import name '_imaging' from 'PIL' (/var/task/PIL/__init__.py)"

Question

Hi,
I'm facing the above error when I try to use PIL package (Image module) for image conversion functionality in lambda function. I tried different methods like Adding zip folder in Layer and using that layer in lambda function/package PIL library folder along with lambda function then zip it (from new venv). it did not work.my python version 3.10 and lambda function is 3.10. below is sample code. the code works in local but not in AWS console Lambda function.
import os
import PIL
from PIL import Image
def lambda_function(event, context):
s3_object_name= 'C:/./tiffimage.TIFF'
  conversion_folder_path = 'C:/.'
  s3_obj_file_type = str(s3_object_name).split(".")[-1]
  print(s3_obj_file_type)
  if s3_obj_file_type == 'TIFF':
    any_image1 = Image.open(s3_object_name)
    new_image_1 = any_image1.convert('RGB')
    new_image_1.save(conversion_folder_path+'/'+'new_converted_tiff8.jpg', 'JPEG')

any suggestion helps!

Answer

Hi Raj-1,

Did you try to package PIL using these [instructions](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/lambda/latest/dg/python-package.html#python-package-create-dependencies)? Note the directory structure in Step 5 for the relative position of dependencies and the function. You can also create the zip file from a venv, shown [here](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/lambda/latest/dg/python-package.html#python-package-create-dependencies:~:text=To%20create%20the%20deployment%20package%20(virtual%20environment)).

Hope this helps.
Mike

"Unable to import module 'lambda_function': cannot import name '_imaging' from 'PIL' (/var/task/PIL/init.py)"

Relevant content