PGX to XPM Converter

Quick PGX to XPM conversion — free online tool

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Speedy Conversion

No long waits — PGX to XPM processing is optimized for speed. Your converted file is typically ready in just a few seconds.

Quality Preserved

The converter extracts full image data from PGX and encodes it into XPM at maximum fidelity. No unnecessary quality degradation.

Works in Your Browser

The entire PGX to XPM conversion happens in a web browser. No desktop software to install — just upload, convert, and download.

How to convert PGX to XPM

1

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

2

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

3

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

About formats

PGX is a simple single-component raster image format defined as part of the JPEG 2000 standard (ISO/IEC 15444) for use in conformance testing and verification of JPEG 2000 codec implementations. Introduced around 2000 alongside the JPEG 2000 specification itself, PGX files store a single image component (one color channel or grayscale plane) with a text header followed by raw pixel data, providing an unambiguous reference representation against which encoder and decoder outputs can be compared sample by sample. The header is a single ASCII line specifying endianness (ML for big-endian, LM for little-endian), signedness (+ for unsigned, - for signed), bit depth (1 to 32 bits), width, and height. The pixel data follows as raw binary values, each occupying the minimum number of bytes needed for the specified bit depth, with one value per pixel. For multi-component images (like RGB), each component is stored in a separate PGX file. The format's deliberate simplicity — no compression, no metadata, no multi-channel support — ensures there are no ambiguities in interpretation that could mask codec bugs. One advantage is verification precision: PGX's uncompressed, exactly-specified representation allows bit-exact comparison of decoded JPEG 2000 output against reference images, essential for certifying that a codec implementation conforms to the standard. The format's role in the JPEG 2000 conformance testing framework means it is implemented by every serious JPEG 2000 codec (OpenJPEG, Kakadu, etc.) and used in the official ISO conformance test suite. PGX files can also be processed by ImageMagick and various JPEG 2000 development tools.
Initial release: 2000
XPM (X PixMap) is a color image format for the X Window System, developed by Arnaud Le Hors at GROUPE BULL beginning in 1989 as the color successor to the monochrome XBM format. Like XBM, XPM files are valid C source code — each file defines the image as a static array of character strings, where the header strings specify width, height, number of colors, and characters per pixel, the color definition strings map character codes to color values (supporting X11 color names, hexadecimal RGB, and symbolic color types like 'background' and 'foreground'), and the pixel strings encode each row as a sequence of character codes that index the color palette. This ASCII art representation makes XPM images human-readable: one can often see the image content directly in the text of the source file. The format went through three revisions: XPM1 (1989, compatible with X10), XPM2 (simplified syntax), and XPM3 (1991, the current version with the static char* syntax and extended color specification). XPM was the standard format for X Window application icons, splash screens, pixmap buttons, and themed UI elements throughout the 1990s and 2000s. One advantage is the combined benefits of being a valid C source file and a color image: XPM files can be compiled into applications, edited in any text editor, processed by text tools, and version-controlled, while supporting up to 256 colors with transparency (using the 'None' color keyword). The X11 ecosystem's reliance on XPM ensures broad tool support. XPM files are handled by all X11 toolkits, ImageMagick, GIMP, and web browsers (legacy support).
Initial release: 1989

Frequently Asked Questions

Why convert PGX to XPM?

Converting from PGX to XPM bridges the gap between specialized standards conformance testing formats and standard image workflows.

What programs open XPM files?

Open XPM files with any image editor or viewer — Photoshop, GIMP, Paint.NET, IrfanView, or the built-in viewer on your operating system.

Why is PGX not widely supported?

PGX was created specifically for JPEG 2000 testing — a narrow technical purpose. It was never designed for everyday image storage or distribution.

Which platforms are supported?

Every platform with a modern browser works — Windows, macOS, Linux, ChromeOS, iOS, and Android all run the PGX to XPM converter perfectly.

Can I convert multiple PGX files at once?

Yes — upload several PGX files in a single session and convert them all to XPM simultaneously. Batch processing saves considerable time.