XBM to PALM Converter

Change XBM images to PALM — no downloads, works online

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Batch Processing

Upload multiple XBM files at once and convert them all to PALM in a single session — ideal when you have many legacy images to migrate.

Reliable Conversion

Convertio handles the XBM to PALM transformation accurately, preserving your image content while delivering a widely compatible output.

Any Device Works

Convert XBM to PALM from Windows, macOS, Linux, or mobile — the browser-based tool adapts to any screen size and operating system.

How to convert XBM to PALM

1

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

2

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

3

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

About formats

XBM (X BitMap) is a monochrome (1-bit) image format defined as part of the X Window System, originating at MIT around 1987. XBM files are unique among image formats in being valid C source code: each file defines the image as a static array of unsigned char values containing the packed pixel data, preceded by #define statements specifying the image width, height, and optional hot-spot coordinates (for cursor images). The pixel data is stored in hexadecimal byte values within curly braces, with each bit representing one pixel (1 = foreground, 0 = background) and bits ordered LSB-first within each byte. This design was intentional — XBM images could be #included directly into X Window application source code and compiled into the binary, eliminating the need for external file loading and runtime format parsing. The format was used throughout the X11 ecosystem for cursor shapes, window icons, toolbar buttons, and other small UI elements. One advantage is the source-code nature of the format: XBM files can be edited with a text editor, diff'd and merged in version control, generated by shell scripts, and compiled directly into C programs without any image loading library — a level of toolchain integration that no binary image format can match. The format's role as part of the X Window standard ensures it is understood by every X11-aware toolkit and application. While limited to monochrome and no compression, XBM's simplicity makes it an excellent teaching format for understanding bitmap representations. XBM files are supported by all X11 applications, ImageMagick, GIMP, web browsers (as a legacy web format), and programming environments.
Developer: MIT X Consortium
Initial release: 1987
PALM is a bitmap image format used by the Palm OS operating system, introduced in 1996 with the original Palm Pilot 1000. Palm bitmap files store raster images in formats optimized for the extremely constrained hardware of early Palm handheld devices — the original models featured a 160x160 pixel monochrome (2-shade) display, 128 KB of RAM, and a 16 MHz Motorola 68328 processor. The format evolved through several versions as Palm hardware improved: PalmOS 1.0 supported 1-bit monochrome, later versions added 2-bit (4 shade grayscale), 4-bit (16 shade), 8-bit (256 color), and eventually 16-bit (65536 color) direct color modes. Palm bitmaps use a simple header specifying width, height, row bytes, flags, and bit depth, followed by the pixel data which may use optional Scanline compression (a PackBits-like run-length encoding) or dense packing. The format also supports bitmap families — multiple versions of the same image at different bit depths bundled together, allowing the OS to select the best version for the current device's display capabilities. One advantage is the format's documentation of early mobile computing: Palm OS was the dominant handheld platform of the late 1990s and early 2000s, and Palm bitmap files from applications, games, and content of that era represent important artifacts of mobile computing history. The multi-depth bitmap family feature provides another notable design strength — a single resource could serve devices ranging from monochrome Palm Pilots to the 16-bit color Sony CLIE and Palm Tungsten. PALM bitmaps are supported by ImageMagick, pilot-link utilities, and Palm emulator tools.
Developer: Palm, Inc.
Initial release: 1996

Frequently Asked Questions

Why would I convert XBM to PALM?

XBM originated in X11/Unix and has narrow compatibility today. PALM offers image format for Palm OS devices — a far more practical choice for sharing.

What apps support PALM?

You can view PALM with ImageMagick, Palm OS emulators, XnView. These tools cover all major desktop and mobile platforms.

Does this converter work on mobile devices?

It works on any device with a web browser. Whether you are on Android, iOS, Windows, or macOS — XBM to PALM conversion is fully supported.

Is XBM to PALM conversion free?

Yes — Convertio offers free XBM to PALM conversion. Premium options exist for users who need more capacity or faster processing speeds.

Can I convert multiple XBM files to PALM at once?

Yes — upload several XBM files in one session and Convertio processes them all into PALM simultaneously, saving you time.

How long does XBM to PALM conversion take?

Usually just seconds. XBM files are typically small, so the upload, conversion, and download process finishes very quickly on Convertio.