XBM to PNG Converter
Convert XBM to PNG in your browser. XBM files usually come from X11 cursors, icons and window manager themes, and C programs that embed small bitmaps; PNG is the better fit for screenshots, logos, graphics and anything that needs transparency. You get a lossless 8-bit PNG with full alpha. Nothing is uploaded.
- Processed locally
- No upload, no wait
- No sign-up
- No watermark
Drop images here
or choose files · paste with Ctrl/⌘ V
XBM expected · other image formats also work
How to use XBM to PNG
- 1
Add your XBM files: drop them here, choose them, or paste from the clipboard.
- 2
There is nothing to tune: the PNG is written losslessly. Resizing and rotating are under More options if you need them.
- 3
Click Convert. Each file is decoded and encoded in a background thread on this device.
- 4
Download the .png files one at a time or together as a ZIP.
Why use Aback Images for xbm to png
Where the PNG goes next
PNG opens in every browser, operating system and image editor.
PNG next to XBM
Both sides are lossless, so the size depends on how well the PNG encoder handles this picture compared with the XBM's none: bits written as hexadecimal bytes in C source.
Written without a lossy pass
The PNG is written losslessly, so the pixels decoded from the XBM arrive unchanged.
Processed on your device
Your images are decoded, edited and encoded inside this browser tab by Web Workers. Nothing is uploaded to a server.
XBM vs PNG
What changes from XBM to PNG
Encoding: the XBM uses none: bits written as hexadecimal bytes in C source; PNG uses lossless DEFLATE with a prediction filter chosen per row, and the download is a lossless 8-bit PNG with full alpha.
Bit depth: 1 bit per pixel in the XBM; PNG allows 1, 2, 4, 8 or 16 bits per channel, and the PNG written here has 8 bits per channel.
Colour: two colours, foreground and background in the XBM; PNG supports RGB, greyscale, or an indexed palette of up to 256 colours, written here as 8-bit sRGB.
Metadata: the XBM can carry the #define names for width, height and an optional hotspot; PNG can carry text chunks, an ICC profile, physical resolution and EXIF in an eXIf chunk, but nothing is copied across.
About XBM
XBM is the 1-bit image format of the X Window System, written as C source code so it can be compiled straight into a program. It was used for cursors, icons and window decorations, and early web browsers displayed it.
An XBM file is C code: '#define name_width 16', '#define name_height 16', optional x_hot and y_hot lines, then 'static unsigned char name_bits[] = { 0x00, ... };' with each byte holding eight pixels, least significant bit first.
XBM files usually come from X11 cursors, icons and window manager themes, and C programs that embed small bitmaps.
About PNG
PNG stores pixels losslessly with full alpha transparency. It is ideal for screenshots, logos, UI and anything with sharp edges, but photos saved as PNG are several times larger than JPEG.
A PNG opens with an 8-byte signature and is a chain of chunks, each with its own CRC: IHDR (size, depth, colour type), optional PLTE and tRNS for palettes, one or more IDAT chunks with the compressed rows, and IEND.
When converting XBM to PNG makes sense
PNG is the better choice for screenshots, logos, graphics and anything that needs transparency, while XBM suits X11 cursors, icons and C programs that embed bitmaps.
PNG strengths: Lossless: no quality loss, ever; Full transparency with smooth edges; Perfect for text, screenshots and graphics. Drawbacks to weigh: Large files for photographs; No standard animation (that is APNG).
Limitations
- An XBM holds only two colours, so the converted image is pure black and white whatever the target can hold.
- A PNG of a photograph is often several times larger than a JPG; PNG pays off for screenshots, graphics and anything with transparency.
- The PNG is written in full colour; Compress PNG can shrink it further with a palette.
More conversions
Related tools
Convert PNG to XBM in your browser, with transparency filled in a colour you pick. Batch, private, no uploads.
Convert any image (HEIC, PNG, WebP, AVIF, RAW, PSD, SVG and 26 more) to PNG in bulk, right in your browser.
Convert JPG to PNG in your browser, ready for screenshots, logos, graphics and anything that needs transparency. Batch, private, no uploads.
Shrink JPG, PNG, WebP, AVIF and GIF files with MozJPEG, OxiPNG and modern codecs, with a live before/after preview.
Resize to exact pixels, a percentage or a longest side, with Lanczos3 and Magic Kernel resampling. Batch ready.
Strip EXIF, GPS, XMP, IPTC and comments losslessly. Pixels are never re-encoded for JPG, PNG and WebP.
Convert between 34 image formats in bulk: HEIC, WebP, AVIF, JPEG XL, PNG, JPG, GIF, TIFF, SVG, ICO, PSD, RAW and more.
Frequently asked questions
Does converting XBM to PNG lose quality?
PNG is written losslessly, so the pixels are stored exactly as decoded.
Which apps open PNG files?
Every browser, operating system and image editor.
Are my images uploaded anywhere?
No. Processing happens inside your browser with WebAssembly and Web Workers. The site only downloads the app code and codecs; your files never leave your device. You can confirm this with the live upload counter on the tool, or in your browser's network panel.
Can I process many files at once?
Yes. Drop a whole selection or folder. Files are processed in parallel on several worker threads, each result can be downloaded on its own, and everything can be saved as one ZIP.
Is it free? Is there a file limit or watermark?
It is free with no account, no watermark and no daily limit. The only limit is your device's memory: very large images (over roughly 100 megapixels) may be refused to keep the tab from crashing.