TM2 to PICON Converter

Turn TIM2 images into PICON images for free online

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Simple Workflow

Upload TM2, pick PICON, download the result — the three-step process makes converting legacy formats effortless for anyone.

Effortless Process

The TM2 to PICON converter guides you through a clear upload-convert-download workflow — no technical expertise required.

No Install Required

The entire TM2 to PICON conversion runs in your browser. No desktop software, no plugins — just upload and convert.

How to convert TM2 to PICON

1

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

2

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

3

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

About formats

TM2 (TIM2) is a raster image format developed by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 2 console, released in Japan on March 4, 2000, as the successor to the original PlayStation's TIM format. TM2 extends the TIM specification to accommodate the PS2's more capable Graphics Synthesizer (GS) GPU, supporting 4-bit indexed (16 colors), 8-bit indexed (256 colors), 16-bit direct color, 24-bit true color, and 32-bit true color with full 8-bit alpha transparency — a significant upgrade over TIM's single-bit semi-transparency flag. The TM2 container includes a file header with a picture count (supporting multiple images in a single file), individual picture headers specifying dimensions, color depth, mipmap count, and CLUT format, the CLUT data, and the image data arranged to match the GS's swizzled memory layout for optimal rendering performance. TM2 files support mipmaps (progressively smaller versions of a texture for distance-based level-of-detail rendering), a feature absent from the original TIM format, reflecting the PS2's ability to handle more sophisticated texture filtering. One advantage is the format's importance in game preservation: thousands of PS2 titles — the best-selling console generation in history — store their texture assets as TM2 files, making the format essential for game modding, texture extraction, HD remaster projects, and academic study of game art history. TM2 files are handled by specialized tools like Rainbow, noesis, and ImageMagick, as well as PlayStation 2 emulator debugging utilities.
Initial release: March 4, 2000
PICON (Personal Icon) is a small-format image type used in the X Window System ecosystem, developed by Steve Kinzler at Indiana University around 1990 as part of the picons (personal icons) database project. Picons are small, typically 48x48 pixel, color images used as visual identifiers for people, organizations, domains, and Usenet newsgroups in Unix mail readers, news readers, and other communication tools. The picon format is essentially an XPM (X PixMap) image stored with specific naming conventions and directory structures that allow software to look up the appropriate icon based on email address, domain name, or newsgroup name. The picons database organized thousands of these small images in a hierarchical directory structure keyed by domain name components (e.g., faces/com/example/user.xpm), enabling mail clients like exmstrstrstr and faces to automatically display a sender's photo or organizational logo alongside their messages. The system predated the modern concept of contact photos and avatars by more than a decade. One advantage is the system's pioneering role in visual identity for electronic communication: picons introduced the idea that email and Usenet messages should display a visual representation of the sender — a concept that eventually became standard in every modern email client, messaging app, and social media platform. The XPM-based format ensures that picons are displayable on any system with X Window libraries. Picon images are supported by ImageMagick, GIMP, and X Window display utilities, and the historical picons database remains archived online at Indiana University.
Developer: Steve Kinzler
Initial release: 1990

Frequently Asked Questions

Why convert TM2 to PICON?

TM2 textures exist only within PS2 game data. Converting to PICON extracts those assets into a standard format for modding or preservation.

What programs can open PICON?

X Window System desktops display PICON icons natively. GIMP, ImageMagick, and XnView can open PICON images for editing.

Will I lose image quality converting TM2 to PICON?

The conversion keeps your image data intact — PICON does not introduce compression artifacts, ensuring the output matches the original closely.

Is TM2 to PICON conversion fast?

The process is fast — cloud-based processing handles TM2 to PICON conversion in seconds for standard-sized images, even on slower connections.

Can I convert multiple TM2 images at once?

Yes — upload multiple TM2 files in one session and convert them all to PICON simultaneously. Batch processing saves time on repetitive tasks.

Does TM2 conversion preserve color accuracy?

The converter maps TM2 color data faithfully to PICON. Output accuracy depends on the target format's color depth capabilities.