Why Migrate to Imperial?
Zero Egress Fees
Unlimited bandwidth with no surprise bills
No Compression
Your images stay pristine (unless you choose compression)
Better Control
Full API access, custom compression, detailed analytics
Fair Pricing
Transparent tier-based pricing, no hidden costs
From Imgur
Imgur’s free tier has become increasingly restrictive. Here’s how to migrate:What You’re Gaining
| Feature | Imgur Free | Imperial Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | Unknown | 10 GB |
| Bandwidth | Limited | Unlimited |
| API Access | Restricted | Full access |
| Compression | Forced | Your choice |
| Analytics | Basic | Detailed |
| Price | Free (with ads) | $6.99/mo |
Migration Steps
1
Sign Up for Imperial
Create your account at app.imperial.gay
2
Export Your Imgur Images
Imgur doesn’t offer bulk export, but you can:
- Use Imgur Mass Downloader
- Or manually download important images
3
Upload to Imperial
Use our batch upload tool or API:
4
Update Your Links
Replace Imgur URLs with Imperial URLs in your:
- Websites and apps
- Social media posts
- Documentation
- Databases
Imgur API Equivalent
| Imgur Endpoint | Imperial Equivalent |
|---|---|
POST /3/image | POST /images/upload |
GET /3/account/me/images | GET /images |
DELETE /3/image/{id} | DELETE /images/{id} |
From Gyazo
Gyazo is great for quick screenshots but lacks flexibility. Here’s your upgrade path:What You’re Gaining
| Feature | Gyazo Pro | Imperial Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | 10 GB | 10 GB |
| Bandwidth | Limited | Unlimited |
| Compression | Auto | Optional |
| API | Limited | Full REST API |
| Price | $4.99/mo | $6.99/mo |
Migration Steps
1
Download Gyazo Images
Export from your Gyazo library
2
Configure ShareX
Imperial works with ShareX (Gyazo’s alternative):
- Download ShareX
- Get your Imperial config
- Import to ShareX
3
Migrate Existing Images
Upload your Gyazo exports to Imperial via dashboard or API
4
Update Workflow
Use ShareX with Imperial for future screenshots
From Lightshot / Prnt.sc
Lightshot is convenient but has reliability issues. Upgrade to Imperial:Migration Steps
1
2
Migrate Old Screenshots
Unfortunately, Prnt.sc doesn’t allow bulk exports. You’ll need to:
- Manually save important screenshots
- Re-upload to Imperial
3
Configure Hotkeys
Set up your preferred shortcuts in ShareX (e.g.,
Ctrl+Shift+3)From Self-Hosted Solutions
Migrating from your own infrastructure? Here’s what changes:From Custom S3/R2 Setup
- Benefits
- Migration
- Cost Comparison
What you gain:
- No infrastructure management
- Built-in compression
- Upload analytics
- Video thumbnail generation
- No ops burden
- Full infrastructure control
- Custom CDN configuration
- Direct bucket access
From ShareX + Custom Server
Already using ShareX with your own endpoint? Easy switch:- Export your existing images from your server
- Download Imperial config for ShareX
- Import to replace your custom uploader
- Upload your existing images to Imperial
- Decommission your custom server
Bulk Migration Tools
Using the Dashboard
For small migrations (< 100 files):- Navigate to app.imperial.gay/images
- Drag and drop multiple files
- Wait for batch upload to complete
Using the API
For large migrations (hundreds/thousands of files):Updating Links
After migration, update your old URLs:Database Update
Code Update
URL Mapping File
Use theurl-mapping.txt created during migration to find-and-replace:
Migration Checklist
1
Preparation
- Create Imperial account
- Choose appropriate tier
- Set up API key or upload key
- Test upload with single file
2
Migration
- Export images from old service
- Run bulk migration script
- Verify all files uploaded successfully
- Save URL mapping file
3
Update Links
- Update database records
- Update application code
- Update documentation
- Update external references
4
Verification
- Test image loading on your site/app
- Verify analytics/tracking still works
- Check CDN performance
- Monitor for broken links
5
Cleanup
- Keep old service for 30 days (redirect period)
- Cancel old subscriptions
- Archive migration logs
- Document the new setup

