What is a PPM file?
PPM (Portable Pixmap) is a very simple uncompressed colour image format from the Netpbm family. It was introduced in 1988 by Jef Poskanzer (Netpbm).
What PPM is good at
- Trivial to read and write
- No compression artefacts
- Perfect for scripts and teaching
Where PPM falls short
- Huge files
- No transparency or metadata
When to use PPM
- Computer-vision and graphics classes
- Scripting pipelines
- Quick pixel dumps
Where PPM files open
PPM files open in GIMP, ImageMagick, Netpbm, OpenCV and Python imaging libraries.
PPM compared with PNG
PPM or PNG? PPM is best for computer-vision and graphics classes. PNG is best for screenshots and UI graphics. Convert PPM to PNG or convert PNG to PPM.
Frequently asked questions
What is a PPM file?
PPM (Portable Pixmap) is a very simple uncompressed colour image format from the Netpbm family. It was introduced in 1988 by Jef Poskanzer (Netpbm).
What are the advantages of PPM?
Trivial to read and write; no compression artefacts; perfect for scripts and teaching.
What are the drawbacks of PPM?
Huge files; no transparency or metadata.
What programs open PPM files?
PPM files open in GIMP, ImageMagick, Netpbm, OpenCV and Python imaging libraries.
How do I convert a PPM file?
Choose the PPM 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.