HEIC to FTS Converter

Convert HEIC to FTS free — FITS scientific format

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Scientific Standard

FITS is the universal data format in astronomy — your HEIC photo enters the scientific imaging ecosystem for analysis.

Rich Metadata

FTS files carry descriptive headers alongside image data — useful for cataloging and automated processing in research.

Cloud Encoding

FITS encoding runs on Convertio servers — no astronomical software installation needed for the conversion step.

How to convert HEIC to FTS

1

Select files from Computer, Google Drive, Dropbox, URL or by dragging it on the page.

2

Choose fts or any other format you need as a result (more than 200 formats supported)

3

Let the file convert and you can download your fts file right afterwards

About formats

HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) is Apple's branded implementation of the HEIF (High Efficiency Image File Format) standard that uses HEVC (H.265) as its image compression codec. Apple adopted HEIC as the default photo format on iPhones and iPads starting with iOS 11 in September 2017, replacing JPEG for newly captured images. HEIC files store photographs compressed with the intra-frame coding mode of the HEVC video codec, which applies sophisticated prediction, transform, and entropy coding techniques that achieve roughly 50% better compression than JPEG at equivalent visual quality. The ISOBMFF (ISO Base Media File Format) container supports multiple images in a single file, enabling Live Photos (a still plus a short video clip), burst sequences, depth maps from dual-camera systems, and HDR gain maps that allow compatible displays to render extended dynamic range. HEIC also stores alpha channels, auxiliary images for computational photography features (portrait mode depth data, semantic segmentation masks), and comprehensive EXIF/XMP metadata. One advantage is storage efficiency: iPhones shooting HEIC use roughly half the storage of equivalent JPEG captures with no visible quality loss, a significant benefit on devices where storage is finite and photos accumulate rapidly. The format's integration with Apple's ecosystem is another key strength — HEIC files are natively supported across macOS, iOS, iPadOS, and iCloud Photos, and automatic JPEG transcoding during file sharing ensures compatibility when sending photos to non-Apple devices. HEIC can also be opened by Windows 10/11 (with codec), GIMP, ImageMagick, and Adobe Lightroom.
Developer: MPEG / Apple
Initial release: 2015
FTS is a file extension for the Flexible Image Transport System (FITS), the standard data format used in astronomy since 1981 when it was defined by Don Wells, Eric Greisen, and R.H. Harten at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, and subsequently endorsed by the International Astronomical Union in 1982. FITS was designed from the outset as a self-describing archival format: each file begins with one or more 2880-byte header blocks containing ASCII keyword-value pairs that describe the data's dimensions, coordinate system, observation parameters, and provenance, followed by data blocks in a variety of numeric types — 8/16/32/64-bit integers and 32/64-bit IEEE floating-point values. FITS supports multi-dimensional arrays (images, data cubes, hypercubes), binary tables for catalog data, and ASCII tables, with multiple Header/Data Units (HDUs) that can coexist in a single file. The format handles specialized astronomical data: spectral cubes, radio interferometry visibilities, multi-extension mosaic images from CCD arrays, and time-series photometry. One advantage is scientific rigor: FITS mandates that all metadata needed to interpret the data physically — coordinate transformations (WCS), photometric calibration, telescope and instrument parameters — travels with the file, eliminating the metadata-loss problem that plagues general-purpose image formats in scientific contexts. The format's longevity and institutional backing is another strength — virtually every observatory, space telescope (Hubble, James Webb, Chandra), and astronomical software package (DS9, IRAF, Astropy) uses FITS as its primary data format.
Developer: NASA / IAU
Initial release: 1981

Frequently Asked Questions

Why convert HEIC to FTS?

FTS (FITS) is the standard scientific image format used in astronomy. Converting HEIC lets you analyze photos with astronomical data tools.

What programs open FTS?

SAOImage DS9, FITS Liberator, Astropy, Aladin, and ImageMagick — tools used across astronomy and scientific imaging.

Does FTS store metadata?

Yes — FITS files include extensive header metadata suitable for scientific cataloging and data description.

Is FTS only for astronomy?

While primarily used in astronomy, FITS is adopted in medical imaging and other scientific fields requiring standardized data formats.

Is HEIC to FTS conversion free?

Standard conversions are free. Premium plans support batch processing and larger image sizes.