TIM to GIF Converter

Export game textures to GIF format online for free

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File Privacy First

Uploaded TIM images and converted GIF results are automatically purged — originals immediately, outputs within 24 hours.

Any Device Works

Convert TIM to GIF from a desktop, laptop, tablet, or phone. Any device with a modern browser and internet connection works.

Batch Support

Upload multiple TIM images and convert them all to GIF in one session — no need to repeat the process for each individual file.

How to convert TIM to GIF

1

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

2

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

3

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

About formats

TIM (Texture Image Map) is a raster image format developed by Sony Computer Entertainment) for the original PlayStation console, released in Japan on December 3, 1994. TIM files store texture and sprite data in a format optimized for the PlayStation's GPU (the GTE/GPU subsystem), supporting 4-bit indexed color (16 colors with CLUT), 8-bit indexed color (256 colors with CLUT), 16-bit direct color (5 bits per RGB channel plus 1 semi-transparency control bit), and 24-bit true color modes. The file structure consists of a 4-byte magic number (0x10), a flag byte indicating color depth and CLUT presence, the optional CLUT (Color Look-Up Table) block containing the palette data, and the image data block containing the pixel values. Image dimensions in TIM files are specified in units of 16-bit words rather than pixels, reflecting the GPU's native memory addressing scheme — this means the width value must be interpreted differently depending on the color depth mode. TIM was part of the PSY-Q development kit used by game developers throughout the PlayStation's commercial lifespan. One advantage is direct hardware compatibility: TIM data could be transferred to the PlayStation's VRAM with minimal processing, enabling fast texture loading critical for maintaining frame rates on the console's limited 33 MHz MIPS R3000A processor. The format remains relevant in retro gaming and preservation communities, readable by tools like TIMViewer, PSXPrev, ImageMagick, and various PlayStation development and modding utilities.
Initial release: December 3, 1994
GIF (Graphics Interchange Format) was introduced by CompuServe on June 15, 1987 as a platform-independent image format for transmitting color graphics over the CompuServe online service's modem-speed connections. The format uses LZW (Lempel-Ziv-Welch) lossless compression on indexed-color images with a palette of up to 256 colors selected from a 24-bit RGB color space. GIF's most distinctive capability is animation: multiple image frames can be stored sequentially within a single file, each with independent delay timing, disposal methods, and local color palettes, enabling short looping animations without any video codec or player. The format also supports binary transparency (one palette entry designated as fully transparent) and interlaced display for progressive rendering. GIF became synonymous with web culture — animated GIFs proliferated across early websites, messaging platforms, and social media, evolving into a communication medium in their own right. One advantage is universal animation support — GIF animations play natively in every web browser, email client, messaging app, and social platform without plugins, codecs, or compatibility concerns, a level of ubiquity no other animation format has achieved. The lossless compression on palette-based images provides another strength: graphics with flat colors, text, and sharp edges (logos, diagrams, UI elements) compress efficiently without the artifacts that affect JPEG. Although the LZW patents that once threatened GIF's use expired in 2004, and newer formats like WebP and AVIF offer superior compression with full-color animation, GIF's cultural entrenchment keeps it irreplaceable for casual animated content.
Developer: CompuServe
Initial release: June 15, 1987

Frequently Asked Questions

Why convert TIM to GIF?

TIM textures are locked inside PlayStation 1 game data. Converting to GIF lets modders, archivists, and artists work with those sprites freely.

What programs can open GIF?

All web browsers display GIF natively. Photoshop, GIMP, and IrfanView edit them. Mobile devices show GIF images in gallery apps.

Does TIM to GIF preserve quality?

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

How long does TIM to GIF conversion take?

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

Does Convertio support batch TIM to GIF conversion?

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

Can I extract TIM from PS1 game discs?

You need to first extract the TIM files from the game data using a ripping tool. Once extracted, upload the TIM files here for conversion.