RLE to UYVY Converter

Convert compressed rasters to UYVY format online for free

Drop files here. 1 GB maximum file size or Sign Up
to
Facebook Amazon Microsoft Tesla Nestle Walmart L'Oreal

Browser-Based Tool

No downloads or plugins needed — convert RLE to UYVY directly in your web browser on any operating system or device.

Private & Secure

Your RLE uploads are deleted right after conversion, and the UYVY output is removed from servers within 24 hours — your data stays safe.

Effortless Process

The RLE to UYVY converter guides you through a clear upload-convert-download workflow — no technical expertise required.

How to convert RLE to UYVY

1

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

2

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

3

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

About formats

RLE (Run-Length Encoded) in the context of the Utah RLE format refers to a raster image file format developed by Spencer W. Thomas at the University of Utah's Computer Science Department around 1983, as part of the Utah Raster Toolkit. The format stores images using a scanline-oriented run-length encoding scheme that compresses sequences of identical pixel values into count-value pairs, achieving good compression ratios for images with large areas of solid color — typical of computer-generated graphics and rendered scenes common in computer science research at the time. Utah RLE supports 1 to 255 color channels per pixel, with 8 bits per channel, and includes a header specifying image dimensions, number of channels, background color, and an optional color map. The format accommodates alpha channel data as an additional channel, and empty scanlines (matching the background color) can be omitted entirely for further compression. The Utah Raster Toolkit provided a suite of Unix command-line tools for manipulating RLE images — operations like compositing, scaling, rotating, color manipulation, and format conversion — establishing a software paradigm later echoed by Netpbm and ImageMagick. One advantage is the format's foundational role in computer graphics: the Utah Raster Toolkit and its RLE format emerged from the same research environment that produced the Phong shading model, Gouraud shading, and the teapot — and much of the early computer graphics research output was stored in this format. The format is supported by ImageMagick, GIMP, and various legacy graphics tools.
Initial release: 1983
UYVY is a packed pixel format for storing images and video frames in YUV 4:2:2 chroma-subsampled color space, with the UYVY designation indicating the byte ordering within each 4-byte macropixel: U (Cb), Y0, V (Cr), Y1. Each macropixel encodes two horizontal pixels sharing a single pair of chrominance samples (U and V) but retaining individual luminance values (Y0 and Y1), achieving 2:1 horizontal chroma subsampling that reduces data size by 33% compared to full 4:4:4 YUV while maintaining full luminance resolution. The UYVY ordering is specified as a FOURCC code in Microsoft's Video for Windows and DirectShow frameworks, and is commonly used in professional video capture cards, broadcast equipment, and video processing pipelines. UYVY raw files contain no header — the pixel data is a flat sequence of U,Y,V,Y byte quadruplets, requiring external specification of image dimensions. The 4:2:2 subsampling exploits the human visual system's lower spatial resolution for color compared to brightness: the eye notices luminance detail at much higher spatial frequencies than chrominance detail, so sharing color samples between adjacent pixels produces no visible quality loss in practice. One advantage is broadcast-standard compatibility: UYVY's 4:2:2 sampling matches the chrominance structure used in professional video standards (ITU-R BT.601, SDI), making it the natural format for video capture hardware and frame-accurate processing. The format's efficient memory layout is another strength — the packed byte arrangement enables fast DMA transfers between capture hardware and system memory. UYVY data is handled by FFmpeg, ImageMagick, and professional video capture/editing software.
Developer: ITU-T / Microsoft
Initial release: 1982

Frequently Asked Questions

Why convert RLE to UYVY?

RLE raster images from the Utah toolkit are hard to open today. A UYVY conversion unlocks them for modern viewers and editing software.

What programs can open UYVY?

VLC media player, FFplay, and raw image viewers handle UYVY video frame data. ImageMagick can also process UYVY raw frames.

Will I lose image quality converting RLE to UYVY?

Since UYVY supports lossless storage, the pixel data carries over without degradation. The result faithfully represents the source RLE image.

How quickly can I convert RLE to UYVY?

The process is fast — cloud-based processing handles RLE to UYVY conversion in seconds for standard-sized images, even on slower connections.

Does Convertio support batch RLE to UYVY conversion?

Yes — upload multiple RLE files in one session and convert them all to UYVY simultaneously. Batch processing saves time on repetitive tasks.