XPM to PICON Converter

Seamless XPM to PICON image conversion, done in the cloud

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Effortless Process

Converting XPM to PICON takes just a few clicks — no technical knowledge required. Upload, choose your format, and download the result.

Browser-Based Tool

No software to download — convert XPM to PICON entirely in your web browser. Works on any device with an internet connection.

Lightning Fast

XPM files are small and convert to PICON in seconds. The cloud-based engine handles the transformation quickly so you can download right away.

How to convert XPM 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

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
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 would I convert XPM to PICON?

XPM is tied to X11/Linux desktops. Switching to PICON gives you small icon/thumbnail format for Unix systems and broad support across platforms, browsers, and devices.

How do I open a PICON file?

Software that handles PICON includes ImageMagick, GIMP, XnView — giving you options on every major operating system.

How long does XPM to PICON conversion take?

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

Are my uploaded files kept private?

Completely. Convertio removes uploaded XPM files right after conversion, and the PICON output is automatically deleted within 24 hours.

What exactly is the XPM format?

The XPM format is a color pixmap format for X Window System, rooted in X11/Linux desktops. Modern software rarely supports it natively, making conversion essential.

Can I convert multiple XPM files to PICON at once?

Absolutely. Batch upload your XPM images and convert them all to PICON in a single pass — no need to repeat the process for each file.