How to convert HEIF to PGM
To convert HEIF to PGM, upload your HEIF file, choose PGM as the output format and press Convert. The finished PGM file is ready to save to your phone or computer in seconds, free, with no watermark and no sign-up. Your file is deleted from our server about 30 minutes after the conversion.
This free online converter changes HEIF images into PGM files in seconds, with no software to install and no watermark. You can convert several files at once, resize them and choose the quality for formats that support it. Metadata such as location tags is removed from the output for privacy.
What you get with HEIF to PGM
- Simple grayscale storage
- Easy to parse
- Good for algorithms and teaching
- Works with: GIMP, ImageMagick, Netpbm, OpenCV and MATLAB
What to expect from this conversion
- HEIF is lossy and PGM is not, so the file will usually get larger. Converting cannot bring back detail that HEIF compression already removed.
- PGM has no transparency, so transparent areas are filled with a background colour. White by default, and you can choose another colour in the options.
- PGM cannot store animation here, so only the first frame of an animated HEIF is saved.
- PGM stores only brightness, so the colour image is converted to grayscale.
- Browsers do not display PGM files, so use it in editors, print workflows or development tools rather than on a web page.
HEIF vs PGM
| Property | HEIF | PGM |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | High Efficiency Image File Format | Portable Graymap |
| Released | 2015, MPEG | 1988, Jef Poskanzer (Netpbm) |
| Compression | Lossy | None (uncompressed) |
| Transparency | Yes | No |
| Animation | Yes | No |
| Bit depth | 8 or 10-bit | 8 or 16-bit gray |
| Shown in browsers | No | No |
| Best for | efficient photo storage; camera and phone workflows | grayscale processing; image-analysis research |
Steps to convert HEIF to PGM
- Drop your HEIF image file onto the converter, or click to choose it.
- Check that PGM is selected as the target and adjust the options if you want.
- Press Convert, then download your new PGM file when it finishes.
Tips for the best result
- Use quality 80 to 90 for photos: it is visually close to the original at a much smaller size.
- Set a width if the image will be shown on a small screen, which also reduces the file size.
- Choose a background colour before converting transparent images to a format without transparency.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert HEIF to PGM?
Drop your HEIF files on the converter, confirm that PGM is the target and press Convert. Download each file or the whole batch as a ZIP.
Is the HEIF to PGM converter free?
Yes. It is free with no watermark, no sign-up and no limit on how many images you convert. The site is supported by ads.
Does converting HEIF to PGM reduce quality?
HEIF is lossy and PGM is not, so the file will usually get larger. Converting cannot bring back detail that HEIF compression already removed. The quality slider only affects formats that use lossy compression.
Will transparency be kept when I convert HEIF to PGM?
PGM does not support transparency, so transparent areas are filled with your chosen background colour (white by default).
Which programs open PGM files?
PGM files open in GIMP, ImageMagick, Netpbm, OpenCV and MATLAB.
How many images can I convert at once?
Up to 20 images per batch, each up to 60 MB. Files are deleted from the server about 30 minutes after conversion.