diff --git a/pyqtgraph/exporters/ImageExporter.py b/pyqtgraph/exporters/ImageExporter.py
index a8d235a8..cacddee1 100644
--- a/pyqtgraph/exporters/ImageExporter.py
+++ b/pyqtgraph/exporters/ImageExporter.py
@@ -44,15 +44,20 @@ class ImageExporter(Exporter):
         
     def parameters(self):
         return self.params
-    
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def getSupportedImageFormats():
+        filter    = ["*."+f.data().decode('utf-8') for f in QtGui.QImageWriter.supportedImageFormats()]
+        preferred = ['*.png', '*.tif', '*.jpg']
+        for p in preferred[::-1]:
+            if p in filter:
+                filter.remove(p)
+                filter.insert(0, p)
+        return filter  
+
     def export(self, fileName=None, toBytes=False, copy=False):
         if fileName is None and not toBytes and not copy:
-            filter    = ["*."+f.data().decode('utf-8') for f in QtGui.QImageWriter.supportedImageFormats()]
-            preferred = ['*.png', '*.tif', '*.jpg']
-            for p in preferred[::-1]:
-                if p in filter:
-                    filter.remove(p)
-                    filter.insert(0, p)
+            filter = self.getSupportedImageFormats()
             self.fileSaveDialog(filter=filter)
             return