VICAR to XPM Converter
Processing entirely on your device — large files may take a moment.
VICAR is NASA/JPL's planetary image format — Mars rover and Voyager frames circulate in it, with a label block describing the instrument. 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 to convert VICAR to XPM
- 1
Select your files
Drag & drop your VICAR 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 VICAR format
The VICAR Planetary Image coder of the ImageMagick set — the planetary-science 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 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 VICAR to XPM?
There is a concrete reason this conversion exists: Niche format — few modern readers XPM sidesteps that — Plain text — diffs and greps If that is your situation, the tool above settles it in seconds, entirely on your device.
Frequently asked questions
Is this VICAR 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 VICAR to XPM?
No — XPM is a lossless format, so every pixel of the converted image matches your original VICAR 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.
Can I convert several VICAR 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.