MAT to FITS Converter
Processing entirely on your device — large files may take a moment.
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. Convert FITS frames to PNG or JPG to preview telescope data, or pack them into a ZIP for sharing.
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 MAT compares to FITS
| MAT | FITS | |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | None / zlib level 9 | None (optionally Rice/GZIP) |
| Transparency | Not supported | Not supported |
| Animation | Not supported | Not supported |
| Metadata | Variable names and workspace metadata | Rich text header (WCS) |
| Best for | Simulation frames, sensor arrays | Telescope frames, science data |
How to convert MAT to FITS
- 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 FITS". The conversion runs entirely inside your browser using WebAssembly — no upload, no queue, no waiting.
- 3
Download results
Download each converted FITS 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 FITS format
FITS (Flexible Image Transport System) has carried professional astronomy data since 1981: every file opens with a plain-text header that records telescope, instrument, exposure, filters and world coordinates, followed by raw pixel arrays — often 16-bit or float, sometimes data cubes.
Values can be negative or far above display range, so FITS never looks right in a photo viewer. Converting to PNG applies a simple scaling pass that reveals the nebula or galaxy in the numbers — good for previews, while science pipelines keep the original.
+Strengths
- ✓Self-documenting science headers
- ✓High bit depth (16/32-bit, float)
- ✓The standard of every observatory
!Limitations
- −Not display-ready
- −Files are large and uncompressed
Why convert MAT to FITS?
There is a concrete reason this conversion exists: Requires MATLAB/Octave to open FITS sidesteps that — Self-documenting science headers If that is your situation, the tool above settles it in seconds, entirely on your device.
Frequently asked questions
Is this MAT to FITS 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 FITS?
No — FITS 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.
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.
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 MAT files matters (camera model, GPS, timestamps), keep the original file as the master and treat the converted copy as the shareable version.