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Supported Formats
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Web Formats
Joint Photographic Experts Group - the most universal image format for photographs using lossy compression. Reduces file sizes 90-95% with minimal visible quality loss. No transparency support. Perfect for photos, web images, email attachments, and any scenario requiring small file sizes. Adjustable quality levels from 1-100. Standard since 1992 with universal device and software support. Ideal for photographs and complex images with many colors.
Portable Network Graphics - lossless image format supporting transparency and 16 million colors. Larger files than JPEG but perfect quality preservation. Supports alpha channel for smooth transparency. Excellent for logos, graphics with text, screenshots, and images requiring transparency. Better compression than GIF for photos. Perfect for web graphics, UI elements, and any image needing lossless quality or transparency. Standard format for web graphics since 1996.
Web Picture format - modern image format by Google providing 25-35% smaller files than JPEG at equivalent quality. Supports both lossy and lossless compression plus transparency. Superior compression algorithms reducing bandwidth usage. Native browser support (96%+ coverage). Perfect for website optimization, web images, and reducing page load times. Combines best features of JPEG, PNG, and GIF. Recommended for modern web development.
Graphics Interchange Format - image format supporting animation and transparency with 256-color limitation. Small file sizes for simple images. Perfect for simple animations, emojis, memes, and graphics with few colors. Lossless for limited palette. Inefficient for photographs (use JPEG) or high-color graphics (use PNG). Universal support since 1987. Standard format for simple web animations and reaction images.
Scalable Vector Graphics - XML-based vector format rendering perfectly at any size. Infinitely scalable without quality loss or pixelation. Small file sizes for geometric shapes and illustrations. Editable with text editors and design software. Perfect for logos, icons, diagrams, and graphics requiring scaling. Supports animation and interactivity. Standard for responsive web graphics and resolution-independent designs. Essential format for modern web icons.
Icon File Format - specialized format for Windows icons containing multiple image sizes (16x16 to 256x256 pixels). Single file provides icons for all display resolutions. Used for favicons, application icons, and Windows shell icons. Supports transparency and multiple color depths. Perfect for website favicons, Windows program icons, and shortcut icons. Standard format for Windows icons since Windows 1.0. Essential for professional Windows applications.
AV1 Image File Format - next-generation image format based on AV1 video codec providing better compression than WebP and JPEG. 20-50% smaller files at equivalent quality. Supports HDR, wide color gamut, and transparency. Cutting-edge compression technology. Growing browser support (85%+ and increasing). Perfect for future-proof web images and maximum efficiency. Better quality at smaller sizes than any previous format. Recommended for modern websites prioritizing performance.
Bitmap Image File - uncompressed raster format from Microsoft providing pixel-perfect quality with large file sizes. No compression means huge files (1MB+ for screenshots). Fast to load and display. Simple format with universal Windows support. Perfect for temporary graphics, screen captures, and scenarios where compression artifacts are unacceptable. Legacy format largely replaced by PNG. Convert to PNG or JPEG for practical use and storage.
Tagged Image File Format - flexible format supporting multiple pages, layers, and various compression methods. Industry standard for professional photography, publishing, and archival. Supports lossless compression, 16-bit color depth, and extensive metadata. Large file sizes but excellent quality. Perfect for print publishing, photo archival, professional photography, and scenarios requiring maximum quality and flexibility. Used in medical imaging and professional scanning.
Professional Formats
Photoshop Document - Adobe Photoshop's native format preserving layers, effects, masks, and all editing capabilities. Supports 16-bit and 32-bit color depths for professional work. Large file sizes due to layer data and editing information. Perfect for ongoing design projects, professional photo editing, and collaborative design work. Not suitable for final output (export to JPEG/PNG). Essential format for professional graphic design and photo manipulation workflows. Industry standard for design files.
OpenEXR - high dynamic range image format developed by Industrial Light & Magic for visual effects and animation. Stores 16-bit or 32-bit floating-point values per channel enabling enormous dynamic range. Supports multiple layers, arbitrary channels, and lossless/lossy compression. Industry standard for VFX, CGI, and professional 3D rendering. Perfect for HDR photography, compositing, and scenarios requiring maximum color precision. Used extensively in film production and high-end visual effects.
High Dynamic Range Image - format storing luminance and color information with greater range than standard images. Captures and displays brightness levels impossible in JPEG/PNG. Uses 32-bit floating-point encoding. Perfect for realistic lighting in 3D rendering, environment maps, and HDR photography. Common in game development and architectural visualization. Enables realistic tone mapping and exposure adjustment. Essential for professional lighting workflows.
DirectDraw Surface - Microsoft texture format for games and 3D applications supporting compressed textures and mipmaps. Optimized for GPU loading with hardware-accelerated decompression. Stores multiple resolution levels (mipmaps) in single file. Standard format for game textures (DirectX, Unity, Unreal). Supports various compression algorithms (DXT1, DXT5, BC7). Perfect for game development, 3D modeling, and real-time rendering. Essential format for game asset pipelines.
Truevision TGA/Targa - raster graphics format supporting 8-32 bits per pixel with alpha channel. Uncompressed or RLE compressed for fast loading. Standard format for video editing, animation, and texture mapping. Excellent color accuracy with optional lossless compression. Perfect for video frame sequences, animation frames, and game textures. Widely supported in 3D software and video editing applications. Reliable format for professional media production.
JPEG 2000 - advanced image format using wavelet compression providing better quality than JPEG at equivalent file sizes. Supports lossless and lossy compression, progressive decoding, and ROI coding. Used in medical imaging, digital cinema, and archival. Better compression artifacts than JPEG. Slower encoding/decoding. Perfect for medical imaging, digital preservation, and applications requiring superior compression. Limited web browser support.
JPEG Stereo - stereoscopic 3D image format storing left and right eye views side-by-side or top-bottom. Based on standard JPEG with special arrangement for 3D viewing. Used for 3D photography, VR content, and stereoscopic displays. Compatible with 3D TVs and VR headsets. Perfect for 3D photography, stereoscopic content creation, and VR/AR applications. Requires special viewing equipment for proper 3D effect.
Portable Float Map - floating-point image format storing HDR color data. Simple format with 32-bit float values per channel. Used in computer graphics for HDR images and height maps. Uncompressed format with large file sizes. Perfect for HDR photography processing, displacement maps, and scientific imaging. Common in 3D rendering and simulation applications. Alternative to OpenEXR for simple HDR storage.
Flexible Image Transport System - scientific image format used primarily in astronomy. Stores astronomical images with extensive metadata headers. Supports multiple data arrays and tables. Standard format for astronomical data archives. Perfect for astronomical imaging, scientific data exchange, and research applications. Used by major observatories and space agencies worldwide. Essential format for astronomical research and data sharing.
How to Convert Files
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is a PFM file and why is it used in HDR imaging?
A PFM (Portable Float Map) file is a high-dynamic-range image format that stores pixel values as 32-bit floating-point numbers, allowing extremely precise brightness and color representation. It is part of the Netpbm family and was designed to hold linear-light data for graphics research, HDR rendering, global illumination studies, and physically based simulations.
PFM retains subtle light differences far beyond what 8-bit or 16-bit images can store, making it ideal for tone mapping, environment lighting, and numerical image processing where exact luminance is important.
How does PFM store image data and what makes it different from common formats?
PFM uses a simple but powerful structure built for scientific and rendering workflows:
Floating-Point Pixel Values
Each pixel uses 32-bit floats instead of integers, enabling extremely high dynamic range and precision for physically based rendering or HDR imaging.
Linear Color Space
PFM stores raw linear-light values, unlike sRGB images that apply gamma. This makes it compatible with rendering engines and lighting simulations.
Minimal Headers
The header simply defines image type, width/height, and scale/endian, making PFM easy to parse with custom tools and research scripts.
Grayscale or RGB Support
PFM supports 1-channel grayscale or 3-channel float images, providing just enough structure for research while avoiding complexity.
Its simplicity and precision make PFM a preferred format for HDR research and rendering output.
Where is the PFM format used today?
PFM is widely used in scientific, graphics, and computational workflows:
Physically Based Rendering Engines
Renderers like PBRT export PFM for high-precision radiance maps used in global illumination calculations.
Computer Vision Research
PFM is often used to store depth maps, disparity maps, optical flow fields, and linear HDR images.
Machine Learning Datasets
Some ML pipelines store training data in PFM to avoid precision loss from integer-based formats.
HDR Tone Mapping Studies
PFM is used when testing tone-mapping operators because it preserves full luminance levels.
Scientific Visualizations
PFM supports radiometric accuracy needed in astrophysics and light simulation visuals.
VFX and Film Rendering
Some pipelines use PFM for intermediate HDR buffers before converting to EXR.
Academic Image Processing
Universities and research labs use PFM as a teaching tool for understanding HDR and linear values.
PFM thrives in precision-critical fields where traditional bitmap formats fall short.
Why does PFM store linear-light values instead of sRGB?
Linear values are required for correct mathematical operations in rendering: convolution, accumulation, exposure, filtering, and tone mapping.
Gamma-encoded images distort intensity relationships, causing errors in optical and numerical calculations.
This format is particularly useful for professional applications requiring high precision and quality preservation.
How does PFM compare to EXR, HDR, and TIFF for HDR imaging?
EXR is more advanced with compression, layers, arbitrary channels, and half-float data-making it the industry standard for film and VFX.
HDR (.hdr/.rgbe) is simpler than EXR but less accurate than PFM since it stores luminance and chroma rather than full floats.
TIFF supports HDR via 32-bit floats but includes heavier metadata and structure, while PFM remains minimal for research.
Is PFM good for storing depth maps, scientific values, or simulation buffers?
Yes-PFM’s float storage makes it ideal for depth, disparity, normal maps, or optical flow fields where fractional precision is essential.
It preserves small decimal variations that integer formats would destroy.
Because it has no compression or quantization, it accurately represents computed results without distortion.
Why do some PFM files load upside-down or appear flipped?
PFM stores pixels in bottom-to-top order, opposite of many raster formats that use top-to-bottom storage.
Some software assumes top-down orientation and displays the image flipped vertically.
Correct interpretation requires respecting the PFM spec’s pixel layout and scale sign.
Why does PFM sometimes display strange brightness or gamma issues?
PFM is not color-managed, which leads to predictable display inconsistencies:
No Gamma Encoding
PFM stores raw linear values; viewers expecting gamma-encoded images will show incorrect contrast.
HDR Values Out of Display Range
PFM pixel values may exceed monitor capabilities-tone mapping is required to view them properly.
No Embedded Color Profiles
Lack of ICC profiles causes differences between applications in interpretation of brightness and color.
Viewer Tone Mapping Differences
Some viewers apply automatic exposure adjustments that alter perceived brightness.
Incorrect Scale Field Interpretation
If scale metadata is ignored or misread, brightness may appear inverted or exaggerated.
PFM requires tone mapping and proper linear interpretation for correct display.
Does PFM support transparency, channels, or metadata?
PFM supports only grayscale or RGB channels-no alpha, depth layering, or arbitrary channels.
It contains almost no metadata beyond resolution and scale, keeping it extremely simple.
For multi-channel HDR images, EXR is the preferred choice.
What formats should I use instead of PFM depending on workflow?
Alternatives vary depending on needs:
For Web HDR
Use AVIF or HDR-JPEG; PFM is not browser-compatible.
For Film and VFX
OpenEXR is the industry standard for floats, layers, and efficient compression.
For Mobile HDR Apps
HEIC/AVIF provide HDR-friendly encoding with better compression.
For Scientific Imaging
TIFF float or EXR float provide more structure and metadata while keeping precision.
For Command-Line Pipelines
PNM/PPM or PFM remain the easiest for quick scripts or academic work.
For Small Files
EXR with ZIP or DWAA compression offers compact HDR storage.
For Legacy HDR Tools
PFM is often still required by older research codebases.
For Lighting/Environment Maps
EXR is preferred due to half-floats and better dynamic range encoding.
For Documents
PFM is unsuitable; use TIFF or PDF.
For Academic HDR Experiments
PFM remains ideal due to its minimalism and precision.
Why won’t some image viewers open PFM files?
Most consumer image viewers only support integer-based formats like PNG, JPEG, and BMP.
PFM requires floating-point decoding, which few casual viewers implement.
High bit-depth and unconventional orientation also cause compatibility issues in simplified decoders.
How can PFM file size be reduced?
PFM is uncompressed; switching to EXR (half-float or ZIP-compressed) drastically reduces file size.
Reduce resolution before exporting if full HDR fidelity is not required.
Convert floats to half-floats via EXR for massive savings with minimal quality loss.
Why is PFM popular in research but not in commercial software?
Researchers value PFM’s simplicity-no metadata complexity or compression artifacts.
Commercial tools prefer standard formats like EXR that support layers, compression, and broader compatibility.
PFM is ideal for algorithm testing but lacks features needed in production pipelines.
Why do programs disagree on whether PFM is big-endian or little-endian?
PFM uses a scale value: positive indicates big-endian, negative indicates little-endian.
Some encoders incorrectly set this value or ignore the specification.
Readers that assume a fixed endianness may misinterpret floating-point data.
Is PFM still relevant today?
Yes-PFM is widely used in HDR research, academic imaging, machine learning, and rendering engines due to its simple float-based structure.
Although EXR has surpassed it in features, PFM remains a foundational format for experiments and teaching.
PFM continues to thrive wherever raw, precise, linear floating-point images are needed with zero compression or metadata overhead.
About the PFM Format
PFM is a file format used in specific workflows. The exact characteristics depend on the implementation and chosen settings.
- Format Type
- File format
- Origin
- Industry-developed format
- Common Uses
- Various applications that support PFM
- Compression
- Depends on implementation
Sources and References
Format details on this page are based on the official specifications and documentation below.
- Image file type and format guide- MDN Web Docs