Multiple source images
Only one image is decoded; a concatenated image sequence is not exported as a complete set.
Convert PBM to AVIF
- In your browser
- No upload
- Private by design
What happens when you convert PBM to AVIF?
No new colour information
The source stores grayscale or bitonal values. A colour-capable AVIF can represent these tones, but conversion cannot infer original scene colours or recover missing intermediate shades. Colourisation would be a separate image-editing operation.
Transparency
The target can store an alpha channel, but converting an opaque image does not create transparent areas. Removing a background is a separate editing step.
Encoding mode
AVIF can use lossy or lossless AV1 coding. Chroma subsampling, RGB↔YUV conversion and reduced bit depth can change source values even when the AV1 coding stage is lossless. Quality defaults to 55; adjust it in Advanced options. File size depends on the image and encoder.
PBM
Source
PBM
Portable Bitmap
Compression: UncompressedTransparency: NoMetadata: Header, Comments
Portable Bitmap: simple uncompressed raster samples for image-processing pipelines.
Explore PBM format →AVIF
Target
AVIF
AV1 Image File Format
Compression: Lossy & losslessTransparency: YesMetadata: Exif, XMP, ICC, CICP
AV1-compressed pictures in an image container, with optional alpha, sequences and high-dynamic-range colour.
Explore AVIF format →Is PBM → AVIF right for you?
Good choice when
- AVIF fits your delivery use: Photo delivery & HDR images.
- You can choose the source image or part needed for delivery.
- You need the existing gray or binary image in a compatible delivery format.
- Your receiving application supports the required AVIF variant.
- You need a AVIF-compatible workflow that can hold transparency added in a separate edit.
Probably not when
- You require a complete collection, page set or multipart round trip.
- You expect automatic colourisation or reconstruction of absent tones.
- You need a guaranteed output file size or archival pixel equality. Encoder settings do not guarantee either.
- You require identical samples without a defined colour and precision policy.
- You expect automatic background removal or transparency.
PBM to AVIF conversion details
- Multiple source images
- Only one image is decoded; a concatenated image sequence is not exported as a complete set.
- No new colour information
- The source stores grayscale or bitonal values. A colour-capable AVIF can represent these tones, but conversion cannot infer original scene colours or recover missing intermediate shades. Colourisation would be a separate image-editing operation.
- Transparency
- The target can store an alpha channel, but converting an opaque image does not create transparent areas. Removing a background is a separate editing step.
- Encoding mode
- AVIF can use lossy or lossless AV1 coding. Chroma subsampling, RGB↔YUV conversion and reduced bit depth can change source values even when the AV1 coding stage is lossless. Quality defaults to 55; adjust it in Advanced options. File size depends on the image and encoder.
- Sample precision & colour
- Pixel conversion only. Original EXIF, GPS, XMP and ICC profiles are not copied; processing uses 8-bit display pixels.
- Metadata & colour
- Pixel conversion only. Original EXIF, GPS, XMP and ICC profiles are not copied; processing uses 8-bit display pixels.
- Compression
- PBM: Uncompressed → AVIF: Lossy & lossless PBM: Netpbm stores these samples without compression. Reducing colour, thresholding or changing maxval can still lose information before storage; text and binary representations change the layout, not its image meaning. AVIF: AVIF can use lossy or lossless AV1 coding. Chroma subsampling, RGB↔YUV conversion and reduced bit depth can change source values even when the AV1 coding stage is lossless.
- Transparency
- Transparency is replaced with white by default. Change the background in Advanced options.
- Animation
- Still image output. Animated files use only the first frame; animation is not preserved.
- Colour depth
- PBM: 1 bit/pixel → AVIF: 8 / 10 / 12 bits
- HDR
- AVIF: Optional; colour properties
- Dimensions
- Rendered image dimensions are retained within the converter limits; this tool does not offer resizing. Orientation handling depends on the source decoder.
- Metadata
- Pixel conversion only. Original EXIF, GPS, XMP and ICC profiles are not copied; processing uses 8-bit display pixels.
Common questions
Will every source image be exported?
Only one image is decoded; a concatenated image sequence is not exported as a complete set.
Can conversion restore colour or missing shades?
The source stores grayscale or bitonal values. A colour-capable AVIF can represent these tones, but conversion cannot infer original scene colours or recover missing intermediate shades. Colourisation would be a separate image-editing operation.
Will the background become transparent?
The target can store an alpha channel, but converting an opaque image does not create transparent areas. Removing a background is a separate editing step.
Are bit depth and colour values guaranteed to match?
Pixel conversion only. Original EXIF, GPS, XMP and ICC profiles are not copied; processing uses 8-bit display pixels.
Will metadata and colour profiles be retained?
Pixel conversion only. Original EXIF, GPS, XMP and ICC profiles are not copied; processing uses 8-bit display pixels.