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PGM Raw at a glance
PGM Raw
The raw PGM branch reflects the practical evolution of Netpbm-style tool formats: keep the tiny header and easy parsing, but move the pixel raster into a binary form that is much more usable for real data sizes.
XCF at a glance
XCF
XCF reflects the long history of GIMP as an open-source raster editor with its own native document model rather than as a lightweight clone of consumer image viewers.
Format comparison
| Feature | PGM Raw | XCF |
|---|---|---|
| File type | Image | Image |
| Extensions |
|
|
| MIME type |
|
|
| Created year | 1988 | 1995 |
| Inventor | Jef Poskanzer | GIMP community |
| Status | active | proprietary |
| Transparency | Not supported | Not supported |
| Animation | Not supported | Not supported |
| Primary use cases |
|
|
| Layer support | Not supported | Supported |
| Vector scaling | Not supported | Supported |
| Camera raw data | Not supported | Not supported |
| HDR support | Not supported | Not supported |
| Streaming ready | Not supported | Not supported |
When to use each format
When to use PGM Raw
- Your source file is already in PGM Raw.
- Preserve source expectations before exporting to XCF.
- PGM Raw is commonly used in image workflows.
When to use XCF
- Your target workflow expects XCF.
- Improve delivery compatibility with XCF.
- XCF is commonly used in image workflows.
FAQs
Why convert PGM Raw to XCF?
Convert to XCF when artwork needs to remain editable in GIMP, especially for layered image editing, compositing, and open-source creative workflows.
It is the right target for preserving GIMP-native editability.
What changes when converting PGM Raw to XCF?
This conversion changes how the format behaves in downstream tools and delivery environments.
Moving to XCF adds layer support. Moving to XCF adds vector scaling.
What should I review after converting PGM Raw to XCF?
Validate output quality on representative files and confirm the target format behaves correctly in the destination workflow.