Image conversion software is used to convert images from one file format to another.
Every graphic you see online is an image file, and most everything you see printed on paper or on plastic was derived from an image file. They come in a variety of formats, each designed for a specific use. Image file formats are standardized means of storing digital images. Image file formats may be stored in an uncompressed format, a compressed format, or a vector format, and image files are made up of digital data in one of these format, so that it can be rasterized for display on a computer screen or to a printer. Rasterization converts the image data into a grid of pixels, each with a number of bits designating its color and, in some formats, its transparency.
There are hundreds of image file types, including proprietary types.
Most commonly seen are the raster formats, which include BPG, BMP, GIF, JPEG, PNG, TIFF, and several others. Vector image formats contain a geometric description that can be rendered smoothly at any size, as opposed to the raster image formats, where the data describes the characteristics of each pixel. There are both 2D and 3D vector formats. Compound formats contain pixel and vector data, and include the PDF formats used by Adobe PDF.
Each graphic file format has its own characteristics, which means that one file format might be better suited for a specific purpose than another. For example, a PNG is a lossless raster format that not only has built-in transparency, but can also display high color depths. However, photo files saved in the PNG format tend to be very large, which means that a JPEG file might be a better choice for web content.
While some image file formats are proprietary, requiring specific software, most standard image file formats may be converted from one to the other. This requires the use of image conversion software, however.
The focus of resources listed in this guide is on image conversion software. While many graphic editors, such as Photoshop and GIMP, include file conversion features, there are also standalone conversion applications, designed primarily for this purpose.
Recommended Resources
Free for non-commercial use, a commercial license, site license, or developer license may be purchased from the site, along with special offers for educational institutions, governmental and non-profit organizations. 2TIFF is based on the proprietary graphics engine component developed by fCoder, and it includes functions for batch conversions, image resizing, watermarking, flipping, cropping, and image rotation, along with a command line interface.
https://www.2tiff.com/
AutoImager is a full-featured batch image converter and editor. Designed to be intuitive, and interface-driven, the converter supports more than a hundred and forty different graphic image formats and includes several features to enhance and alter images. Multi-page image conversion and editing are supported, as well. Its features are listed, a list of the more common supported images and a gallery of screenshots are included, and the product may be purchased online.
http://www.autoimager.com/
Developed by AVS Media, AVS Image Converter is designed to convert images between several popular image formats, such as JPEG to GIF, GIF to PNG, PNG to JPEG, JPEG to PNG, and so on, including conversions between several vector image formats. Additionally, the software can add watermarks to the images, and it includes other features, such as the ability to make photos look classic or aged. Available for Microsoft Windows, it may be downloaded free.
https://www.avs4you.com/avs-free-image-converter.aspx
The company develops easy-to-use raster to vector and DWG conversion software, including Acme TraceArt, Acme CAD Converter, Acme CADSee, OutlineArt, and a full line of DWG conversion tools (DWG to PDF, DWG to image, DWG to WMF, DWG to SVG), a raster to vector software development kit, and others, which are highlighted and offered for sale on the site. Support information is put forth, and a list of resellers for Europe, South Korea, Russia, and China are posted to the site.
http://www.dwgtool.com/
Offering graphic converter software for Mac and Windows, as separate products, the features and capabilities of each are put forth, including the image file formats (PNG, JPG, GIF, BMP, CUR, ICO, TIFF, etc.) supported, and other capabilities, such as resizing and batch conversions, screenshots highlighting its features, answers to frequently asked questions, and hints, tips, and shortcuts on using the software more effectively. User testimonials are also published to the site.
https://www.graphic-converter.net/
Created by fCoder Solutions, and based in Poland, Image Converter Plus is designed to convert image files from one format to another, supporting several file formats. Other features provided by the program include image resizing, sharing to popular photo hosting sites, image cropping, and other graphic modifications, which are highlighted here. User instructions are posted to the site, along with a support knowledgebase, user testimonials, and awards.
https://www.imageconverterplus.com/
Specializing in the development of document viewing and conversion technology, Snowbound’s products include RasterMaster, a file-conversion software development kit that supports several different file formats, as well as VirtualViewer HTML5, a document viewer with support for popular document and image types. The features of both are highlighted, along with support options, licensing, documentation, several informational resources, and an overview of the company.
https://www.snowbound.com/
Vectorizer is an online tool to convert raster images, such as PNGs, BMPs, and JPEGs to scalable vector graphics, like SVGs, EPSs, and DXFs. Vectorization is accomplished by converting pixel color information into geometric objects that can be displayed as a vector graphic. A gallery of free stock images are featured, as a means of displaying the quality of the process, and pricing is by three-month subscription, with personal and commercial options.
https://www.vectorizer.io/
