IIQ to SIX Converter

IIQ to SIX conversion online — easy and fast

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High-Resolution Preserved

Phase One IIQ captures can exceed 150MP. Conversion maintains the full resolution and dynamic range of your medium format shots.

Secure Studio Workflow

Phase One IIQ files are deleted after processing. Converted outputs are automatically cleaned up within 24 hours for safety.

No Capture One Needed

Convert IIQ files directly in your browser. No Phase One software or RAW plugins required — just upload and download.

How to convert IIQ to SIX

1

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

2

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

3

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

About formats

IIQ (Intelligent Image Quality) is the proprietary RAW format developed by Phase One, a Danish manufacturer of medium-format digital camera systems and backs, introduced in 2008 with the P65+ digital back. IIQ files capture the unprocessed readout from Phase One's large-area CCD and CMOS sensors — ranging from 40 to 151 megapixels in current systems — at 16 bits per channel, preserving the full dynamic range, color depth, and spatial resolution of the sensor. The format comes in two variants: IIQ Large (IIQ L), which uses lossless compression for zero-quality-loss archival, and IIQ Small (IIQ S), which applies visually lossless compression to reduce file sizes by approximately 40-60% with negligible quality impact. Phase One's sensor calibration data, including per-pixel defect maps, fixed-pattern noise profiles, and factory color calibration, is embedded in the IIQ file, enabling precise correction during RAW development. One advantage is sheer resolving power and tonal depth: IIQ files from Phase One's flagship systems deliver the highest pixel counts and widest dynamic range available in commercial photography, making them the standard format for museum digitization, fine art reproduction, aerial surveying, and commercial advertising where maximum detail is non-negotiable. Tight integration with Capture One is another key strength — Phase One develops both the camera hardware and the RAW processing software, ensuring that IIQ files receive optimized demosaicing, color rendering, and lens correction tuned to each specific camera-lens combination.
Developer: Phase One
Initial release: 2008
SIX is a file extension for SIXEL (Six Pixel) graphics data, a bitmap graphics format developed by Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) in 1983 and introduced with the LA50 dot matrix printer. SIXEL encodes images as a sequence of printable ASCII characters, where each character represents a column of six vertical pixels (a 'sixel') — the character's ASCII value minus 63 provides a 6-bit binary pattern, with each bit controlling one pixel in the vertical column. The encoding is structured as a series of sixel bands (each six pixels tall) across the image width, with control sequences for color selection (up to 256 registers with HLS or RGB specification), repeat counts (run-length encoding for efficiency), carriage return, and newline commands. SIXEL data is transmitted to the output device using DEC's standard escape sequence protocol, embedded within the text stream alongside regular character output. Originally designed for DEC's line of printers and later supported by DEC VT-series terminals (VT240, VT330, VT340), SIXEL has experienced a remarkable revival in modern terminal emulator software. One advantage is terminal-native image display: SIXEL allows images to be rendered directly within a text terminal session without requiring a graphical window system, enabling command-line tools to display graphs, photographs, and previews inline with text output. This capability has driven adoption in modern terminals like mlterm, xterm, WezTerm, and foot. SIX/SIXEL data can be generated by ImageMagick, libsixel, and chafa, and viewed in any SIXEL-capable terminal emulator.
Initial release: 1983

Frequently Asked Questions

Why convert IIQ to SIX?

IIQ is a professional medium format RAW that few tools outside Capture One support. Converting to SIX makes your photos universally accessible.

What opens SIX?

Terminal emulators with SIXEL support like mlterm, xterm, and mintty display SIX images.

Does conversion lose image quality?

Some quality depends on the target format. SIX uses terminal display encoding, so results reflect the characteristics of SIX output.

Do I need to install anything?

No installation at all. The IIQ to SIX converter runs entirely in your web browser — just visit the page and start converting.

Is it free to convert IIQ to SIX?

Basic IIQ to SIX conversions are free. Paid plans unlock priority processing and expanded capabilities for heavy users.