MAT to CUR Converter
Processing entirely on your device — large files may take a moment.
MATLAB Image and Windows Cursor exist for different jobs: MAT is the MATLAB workspace image format — arrays saved by MATLAB and scientific tools, often holding raster frames from simulations or sensors alongside numeric data. Converting CUR to PNG lets you view and reuse cursor graphics in design tools.
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 MAT compares to CUR
| MAT | CUR | |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | None / zlib level 9 | BMP/PNG members (as ICO) |
| Transparency | Not supported | Supported |
| Animation | Not supported | No (that is .ani) |
| Metadata | Variable names and workspace metadata | Hotspot coordinates |
| Best for | Simulation frames, sensor arrays | Windows cursors and UI assets |
How to convert MAT to CUR
- 1
Select your files
Drag & drop your MAT 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 CUR". The conversion runs entirely inside your browser using WebAssembly — no upload, no queue, no waiting.
- 3
Download results
Download each converted CUR file individually, or grab everything at once as a ZIP archive.
About the MAT format
MAT is the workspace format of MATLAB and its open-source sibling Octave. Image data shows up inside MAT files as numeric arrays — simulation frames, sensor captures, processed microscopy — usually alongside the variables and metadata a research script produced with them.
Converting the image arrays inside a MAT file to PNG makes them viewable and shareable without MATLAB — useful for reports, papers and collaborations where colleagues do not have a MATLAB license.
+Strengths
- ✓Carries numeric precision end to end
- ✓Pairs image data with research variables
- ✓Octave compatibility (open tooling)
!Limitations
- −Requires MATLAB/Octave to open
- −Not an image container by design
About the CUR format
CUR is the Windows cursor file: structurally identical to ICO (several small bitmap sizes bundled), with the addition of a hotspot coordinate that marks which pixel is the pointer's tip. Windows ships most of its system cursors as CUR files.
Designers customizing cursors or extracting UI assets meet CUR files that no modern image tool opens. Converting to PNG (the largest embedded size) makes them editable, viewable and reusable in web apps that implement custom cursors.
+Strengths
- ✓Windows cursor standard
- ✓Multiple sizes in one file
- ✓Hotspot data travels with the image
!Limitations
- −Tiny sizes only (usually ≤48px)
- −Meaningless outside cursor use
Why convert MAT to CUR?
There is a concrete reason this conversion exists: Requires MATLAB/Octave to open CUR sidesteps that — Windows cursor standard If that is your situation, the tool above settles it in seconds, entirely on your device.
Frequently asked questions
Is this MAT to CUR 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 MAT to CUR?
No — CUR is a lossless format, so every pixel of the converted image matches your original MAT file. You can also adjust the quality/size balance before converting when the target format supports compression.
Will transparent areas survive the conversion to CUR?
Transparency is kept whenever CUR 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 MAT 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.