GRAY to XBM Converter
Processing entirely on your device — large files may take a moment.
Convert XBM icons to PNG for viewing, or emit XBM when embedded firmware/Unix code needs a compiled-in bitmap. If your files are still in GRAY format, this page is the shortcut: GRAY is the single-channel spelling of raw grayscale dumps — the same unformatted luminance bytes the GRAYA variant adds alpha to.
iLoveConverter processes everything locally on your computer, which makes it private and fast: no upload wait, no server storage, no limits. Add as many files as you like — batch conversion is built in.
How GRAY compares to XBM
| GRAY | XBM | |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | Grayscale + Alpha (raw) coder | C #defines + hex byte array |
| Compatibility | ImageMagick, specialty tools | X11, C compilers, GTK |
| Best for | Legacy and specialty pipelines | Compiled-in cursors and icons |
How to convert GRAY to XBM
- 1
Select your files
Drag & drop your GRAY files onto the area above, or click to browse. You can add multiple files at once for batch conversion.
- 2
Convert instantly
Click "Convert to XBM". The conversion runs entirely inside your browser using WebAssembly — no upload, no queue, no waiting.
- 3
Download results
Download each converted XBM file individually, or grab everything at once as a ZIP archive.
About the GRAY format
The Grayscale + Alpha (raw) coder of the ImageMagick set — the raw-pixels format is written natively by the magick.wasm engine, entirely in your browser.
Obscure coder formats like this are exactly what template-driven converters list and never actually convert — here it really works.
+Strengths
- ✓Written natively by ImageMagick
- ✓Runs entirely in your browser
- ✓Free, private, no watermarks
!Limitations
- −Niche format — few modern readers
- −Feature subset varies by coder
- −Keep the original for re-editing
About the XBM format
XBM is the most honest image format ever shipped: the "file" is a C source array of hex bytes, compiled straight into X11 applications as cursor and icon bitmaps. Rendered, it is 1-bit black and white — the ancestors of every pixel-art cursor you still use.
Because it compiles, XBM never died: firmware UIs, embedded icons and retro Unix tooling still want it. Converting a PNG down to XBM gives embeddable, compilable art; the other direction previews what the C array actually draws.
+Strengths
- ✓Compiles directly into C/C++ programs
- ✓Zero-payload format — text only
- ✓Still required by embedded and Unix tooling
!Limitations
- −1-bit black & white only
- −Human-hostile representation
- −X11 bit order trips up hand-rolled decoders
Why convert GRAY to XBM?
Converting makes sense where the strengths of XBM meet what GRAY cannot give you. Compiles directly into C/C++ programs Meanwhile Niche format — few modern readers One pass through the converter above puts your file on the right side of that trade-off.
Frequently asked questions
Is this GRAY to XBM converter really free?
Yes — completely free, with no sign-up, no watermark and no daily conversion limits. The site is supported by advertising.
Are my files uploaded to a server?
No. The conversion runs entirely inside your browser using WebAssembly, so your files never leave your device — that is what makes it instant and private.
Does it work on Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android?
Yes. Anything with a modern browser works: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS. No software installation is required.
Will I lose quality converting GRAY to XBM?
No — XBM is a lossless format, so every pixel of the converted image matches your original GRAY file. You can also adjust the quality/size balance before converting when the target format supports compression.
Will transparent areas survive the conversion to XBM?
Transparency is kept whenever XBM actually supports an alpha channel. If the target format has none (like JPG), transparent areas are flattened onto a white background — that is a property of the format, not of this tool.
Can I convert several GRAY files at once?
Yes — drop as many files as you like into the tool and they are converted in one batch. When more than one file comes out, everything is bundled into a ZIP for a single download.