PFM File Converter
Online PFM File Converter - Instant Download!
Drag your file here to to upload.
Up to 250MB
How to Use PFM Converter
Step 1 – Upload PFM file
Drag your .PFM file or use the browse button.
Step 2 – Choose Format
Select the desired output format from the dropdown list.
Step 3 – Download File
Click "Convert" and download your converted file once ready.
About PFM (.PFM)
PFM stands for Portable Float Map, a file format used for storing high dynamic range images. It is often utilized in scientific imaging and computer graphics to represent detailed color data with greater precision than standard formats. The format supports floating-point values, making it ideal for HDR workflows. Interestingly, PFM files were introduced in the 1990s alongside early computer graphics research to accommodate precise image data.
Technical Details
A PFM file starts with a header specifying the image type (color or grayscale), dimensions, and scale factor indicating endianness and pixel value range. The pixel data follows in binary form, stored as 32-bit floating-point numbers. The format is simple and uncompressed, allowing easy reading and writing by software but resulting in larger file sizes. Developers appreciate the straightforward structure, which facilitates its use in custom image processing pipelines.
Additional Information & Use Cases
PFM files typically contain RGB or grayscale images with floating-point data, capturing subtle variations in color and brightness. They are not widely supported by common image viewers but are popular in specialized software for rendering and image processing. Unlike formats like JPEG or PNG, PFM files do not use compression, preserving the exact image data. This makes them valuable in fields such as computer vision and scientific visualization, where accuracy is crucial.
