XPM to TGA Converter
Processing entirely on your device — large files may take a moment.
Converting TGA to PNG or WebP brings old game textures into modern web and design tools. If your files are still in XPM format, this page is the shortcut: XPM (X11 Pixmap) is an image written as C source code — plain ASCII text that compilers and editors ingest directly, the classic icon format of Linux desktops and legacy X11 apps.
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 XPM compares to TGA
| XPM | TGA | |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | None (ASCII text) | None or RLE |
| Transparency | Single transparent color | Supported (32-bit) |
| Animation | Not supported | Not supported |
| Metadata | Not supported | Minimal |
| Best for | Linux icons, X11 themes | Game textures, 3D pipelines |
How to convert XPM to TGA
- 1
Select your files
Drag & drop your XPM 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 TGA". The conversion runs entirely inside your browser using WebAssembly — no upload, no queue, no waiting.
- 3
Download results
Download each converted TGA file individually, or grab everything at once as a ZIP archive.
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)
About the TGA format
TGA (Truevision Targa, 1984) was the file format of early video digitizer boards and became the texture standard of classic game and 3D pipelines. It is raster data with almost no ceremony: a small header, optional RLE compression, 8/24/32-bit pixels, alpha optional. Half the 3D engines of the 90s read nothing else.
Modern design and web tools have quietly dropped it, but art asset dumps, texture mods and game extracts still arrive as TGA. Converting to PNG (lossless, with alpha intact) or JPG brings these assets into anything current.
+Strengths
- ✓Trivially simple, lossless raster storage
- ✓Alpha channel support
- ✓The texture format of classic game pipelines
!Limitations
- −Dropped by modern design and web tools
- −No metadata ecosystem
- −Files can be large when uncompressed
Why convert XPM to TGA?
There is a concrete reason this conversion exists: 256 colors maximum TGA sidesteps that — Trivially simple, lossless raster storage If that is your situation, the tool above settles it in seconds, entirely on your device.
Frequently asked questions
Is this XPM to TGA 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 XPM to TGA?
No — TGA is a lossless format, so every pixel of the converted image matches your original XPM file. You can also adjust the quality/size balance before converting when the target format supports compression.
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 XPM files matters (camera model, GPS, timestamps), keep the original file as the master and treat the converted copy as the shareable version.
Will transparent areas survive the conversion to TGA?
Transparency is kept whenever TGA 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.