VIFF to XPM Converter
Processing entirely on your device — large files may take a moment.
VIFF is the image format of the Khoros software system, a research toolkit from the early days of scientific visualization. Still found in legacy academic image-processing datasets. Convert PNG or SVG output to XPM to feed icon themes and legacy toolkits.
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 VIFF compares to XPM
| VIFF | XPM | |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | None (uncompressed) | None (ASCII text) |
| Transparency | Supported | Single transparent color |
| Animation | Not supported | Not supported |
| Metadata | Attribute lists | Not supported |
| Best for | Legacy scientific datasets | Linux icons, X11 themes |
How to convert VIFF to XPM
- 1
Select your files
Drag & drop your VIFF 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 VIFF format
VIFF is the image format of the Khoros software system, a visual-programming environment built for scientific image processing in the late 1980s and 1990s. Its files carry raster data plus optional attribute lists, and it survives today mostly in older academic datasets and image-processing course material.
Modern software rarely opens VIFF without help. Converting VIFF to PNG puts legacy research imagery into a format every viewer, notebook and browser understands — useful when reviving old datasets or coursework.
+Strengths
- ✓Holds multi-band scientific raster data
- ✓Attribute lists travel with the image
- ✓Simple, fully documented binary layout
!Limitations
- −Tied to discontinued Khoros tooling
- −No browser or OS support
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 VIFF to XPM?
Think of it as moving your file to the container that fits the job. Tied to discontinued Khoros tooling 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 VIFF 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 VIFF to XPM?
No — XPM is a lossless format, so every pixel of the converted image matches your original VIFF file. You can also adjust the quality/size balance before converting when the target format supports compression.
Can I convert several VIFF 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.
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.