Convert anything, at global scale.
200+ formats and automation APIs that feels instant.
CONVERT
From
To
Drop files or choose a source
Upload multiple files at once, mix formats, and fine-tune every conversion with format-aware settings.
Max 2GB per file · Drag & drop ready · Mixed file types welcome
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.
XPM at a glance
XPM
Before today's relatively small set of mainstream consumer image formats dominated everyday use, desktop software, workstations, GUI systems, and early graphics tools produced many specialized raster formats with local importance.
Format comparison
| Feature | XCF | XPM |
|---|---|---|
| File type | Image | Image |
| Extensions |
|
|
| MIME type |
|
|
| Created year | 1995 | 1989 |
| Inventor | GIMP community | Daniel Dardailler, Colas Nahaboo (Groupe Bull) |
| Status | proprietary | legacy |
| Transparency | Not supported | Not supported |
| Animation | Not supported | Not supported |
| Primary use cases |
|
|
| Layer support | Supported | Not supported |
| Vector scaling | Supported | Not 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 XCF
- Your source file is already in XCF.
- Preserve source expectations before exporting to XPM.
- XCF is commonly used in image workflows.
When to use XPM
- Your target workflow expects XPM.
- Improve delivery compatibility with XPM.
- XPM is commonly used in image workflows.
FAQs
Why convert XCF to XPM?
Convert to XPM when maintaining or restoring X11-era icon assets or other historical Unix interface graphics.
It is useful where text-based icon compatibility matters more than modern compression.
What changes when converting XCF to XPM?
This conversion changes how the format behaves in downstream tools and delivery environments.
Moving to XPM removes layer support. Moving to XPM removes vector scaling.
What should I review after converting XCF to XPM?
Validate output quality on representative files and confirm the target format behaves correctly in the destination workflow.