HDR to XPM Converter
Processing entirely on your device — large files may take a moment.
Radiance HDR Image and X11 Pixmap exist for different jobs: HDR (Radiance RGBE) stores floating-point high-dynamic-range pixels — the format of lighting data and HDRI environment maps. Convert PNG or SVG output to XPM to feed icon themes and legacy toolkits.
Because the whole conversion happens on your device, it is instant, unlimited and genuinely private — no accounts, no watermarks, no files on anyone's server. Multiple files are converted in one go.
How HDR compares to XPM
| HDR | XPM | |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | RGBE (RLE runs) | None (ASCII text) |
| Transparency | Not supported | Single transparent color |
| Animation | Not supported | Not supported |
| Metadata | Radiance comments | Not supported |
| Best for | Lighting data, environment maps | Linux icons, X11 themes |
How to convert HDR to XPM
- 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 XPM". The conversion runs entirely inside your browser using WebAssembly — no upload, no queue, no waiting.
- 3
Download results
Download each converted XPM 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 XPM format
XPM (X11 Pixmap) is an image format that is literally C source code: pixels are listed as character-to-color mappings inside an ASCII array. Compilers, text editors and version control all treat it as plain text, which is why Linux desktop icons and legacy X11 application assets have used it for decades.
XPM is limited to 256 colors per image and stores no alpha beyond a designated transparent character, so it is a niche target: mainly icon themes, window-manager decorations and retro programming projects.
+Strengths
- ✓Plain text — diffs and greps
- ✓Compiles straight into C programs
- ✓Tiny for small flat icons
!Limitations
- −256 colors maximum
- −Poor alpha (one transparent color)
Why convert HDR to XPM?
Think of it as moving your file to the container that fits the job. Not display-ready — needs tone mapping XPM works differently: Plain text — diffs and greps If any of that sounds like your task, run the conversion — it takes seconds and nothing leaves your device.
Frequently asked questions
Is this HDR to XPM 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 XPM?
No — XPM 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.
Will transparent areas survive the conversion to XPM?
Transparency is kept whenever XPM 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.
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.