Multiple source images
Only one image is decoded; a concatenated image sequence is not exported as a complete set.
Convert PGM to TIFF
- In your browser
- No upload
- Private by design
What happens when you convert PGM to TIFF?
No new colour information
The source stores grayscale or bitonal values. A colour-capable TIFF 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
TIFF is not intrinsically lossless or uncompressed. Read the Compression, BitsPerSample and SampleFormat tags; decoder support varies across schemes. The output uses the implemented still-image encoder; file size depends on the pixels and format.
PGM
Source
PGM
Portable Graymap
Compression: UncompressedTransparency: NoMetadata: Header, Comments
Portable Graymap: simple uncompressed raster samples for image-processing pipelines.
Explore PGM format →TIFF
Target
TIFF
Tagged Image File Format
Compression: Depends on variantTransparency: YesMetadata: TIFF tags, Exif, ICC
Tagged raster storage for scanning and image interchange. Compression, sample types and image count depend on the TIFF variant.
Explore TIFF format →Is PGM → TIFF right for you?
Good choice when
- TIFF fits your delivery use: Scans & raster interchange.
- 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 TIFF variant.
- You need a TIFF-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.
PGM to TIFF 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 TIFF 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
- TIFF is not intrinsically lossless or uncompressed. Read the Compression, BitsPerSample and SampleFormat tags; decoder support varies across schemes. The output uses the implemented still-image encoder; file size depends on the pixels and format.
- 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
- PGM: Uncompressed → TIFF: Depends on variant PGM: 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. TIFF: TIFF is not intrinsically lossless or uncompressed. Read the Compression, BitsPerSample and SampleFormat tags; decoder support varies across schemes.
- Transparency
- Transparency is replaced with white by default. Change the background in Advanced options.
- Colour depth
- PGM: maxval up to 65535 → TIFF: Tagged sample types
- Multiple images
- TIFF: Image directories
- 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 TIFF 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.