HDR 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 HDR format, this page is the shortcut: HDR (Radiance RGBE) stores floating-point high-dynamic-range pixels — the format of lighting data and HDRI environment maps.
This converter runs entirely in your browser using WebAssembly — your files never leave your device, nothing is uploaded, and there are no watermarks, sign-ups or queues. Drop in several files at once to convert them as a batch.
How to convert HDR to XBM
- 1
Select your files
Drag & drop your HDR 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 HDR format
HDR (Radiance RGBE) is the veteran high-dynamic-range format of lighting research and 3D rendering: pixels stored as a shared 8-bit exponent plus per-channel mantissas, letting one file hold both a sun and a shadow with no clipping. HDRI environment maps for 3D scenes are almost always HDR files.
Standard image viewers show it badly or not at all, because the values can exceed what a screen can display. Converting HDR to PNG tone-maps the file into an 8-bit preview — good for quick inspection, though the floating-point original remains the render-grade master.
+ Strengths
- ✓True high-dynamic-range values
- ✓The standard of HDRI environment maps
- ✓Compact for its precision
! Limitations
- −Not display-ready — needs tone mapping
- −Viewer support is scarce
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 HDR to XBM?
There is a concrete reason this conversion exists: Not display-ready — needs tone mapping XBM sidesteps that — Compiles directly into C/C++ programs If that is your situation, the tool above settles it in seconds, entirely on your device.
Frequently asked questions
Is this HDR 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 HDR to XBM?
No — XBM is a lossless format, so every pixel of the converted image matches your original HDR file. You can also adjust the quality/size balance before converting when the target format supports compression.
What happens to EXIF data and other metadata?
Conversions here re-encode the image, and re-encoding generally does not carry the original metadata over. If the EXIF data of your HDR files matters (camera model, GPS, timestamps), keep the original file as the master and treat the converted copy as the shareable version.
Can I convert several HDR 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.