What is a PGM file?
PGM (Portable Graymap) is the Netpbm grayscale format: one brightness value per pixel, uncompressed. It was introduced in 1988 by Jef Poskanzer (Netpbm).
What PGM is good at
- Simple grayscale storage
- Easy to parse
- Good for algorithms and teaching
Where PGM falls short
- Colour is lost
- Large files
When to use PGM
- Grayscale processing
- Image-analysis research
- Teaching pixel data
Where PGM files open
PGM files open in GIMP, ImageMagick, Netpbm, OpenCV and MATLAB.
PGM compared with PNG
PGM or PNG? PGM is best for grayscale processing. PNG is best for screenshots and UI graphics. Convert PGM to PNG or convert PNG to PGM.
Frequently asked questions
What is a PGM file?
PGM (Portable Graymap) is the Netpbm grayscale format: one brightness value per pixel, uncompressed. It was introduced in 1988 by Jef Poskanzer (Netpbm).
What are the advantages of PGM?
Simple grayscale storage; easy to parse; good for algorithms and teaching.
What are the drawbacks of PGM?
Colour is lost; large files.
What programs open PGM files?
PGM files open in GIMP, ImageMagick, Netpbm, OpenCV and MATLAB.
How do I convert a PGM file?
Choose the PGM converter you need from the list on this page, drop in your file and press Convert. You get your new file in seconds, free and without sign-up.