PFM to JPG Converter
Convert PFM to JPG in your browser. PFM files usually come from computer vision benchmarks (the Middlebury stereo disparity maps, for example), HDR research and renderers; JPG is the better fit for photographs that need to open anywhere. You get a standard JPEG at the quality you choose. Nothing is uploaded.
- Processed locally
- No upload, no wait
- No sign-up
- No watermark
Drop images here
or choose files · paste with Ctrl/⌘ V
PFM expected · other image formats also work
How to use PFM to JPG
- 1
Add your PFM files: drop them here, choose them, or paste from the clipboard.
- 2
Set the quality. 85 to 92 looks identical to the original for most photos; 70 to 80 saves much more with little visible change.
- 3
Click Convert. Each file is decoded and encoded in a background thread on this device.
- 4
Download the .jpg files one at a time or together as a ZIP.
Why use Aback Images for pfm to jpg
Where the JPG goes next
JPG opens in every operating system, browser, phone, photo kiosk and image editor.
JPG next to PFM
A lossy JPG usually comes out far smaller than the PFM, which stores none.
The first lossy pass
The PFM holds 32-bit floating point per channel with nothing discarded yet. This conversion is the first lossy encode these pixels see, and hard edges and flat colour show it first.
Processed on your device
Your images are decoded, edited and encoded inside this browser tab by Web Workers. Nothing is uploaded to a server.
PFM vs JPG
What changes from PFM to JPG
Encoding: the PFM uses none; JPG uses lossy DCT coding in 8×8 pixel blocks, with colour usually stored at half resolution, and the download is a standard JPEG at the quality you choose.
Bit depth: 32-bit floating point per channel in the PFM; JPG allows 8 bits per channel, and the JPG written here has 8 bits per channel. Float values are mapped to 8 bits per channel, and values above 1.0 clip.
Colour: RGB ('PF') or greyscale ('Pf'), in linear values in the PFM; JPG supports YCbCr shown as RGB, greyscale, or CMYK from print software, written here as 8-bit sRGB.
Metadata: the PFM can carry none beyond the header; JPG can carry EXIF (camera, date, GPS), XMP, IPTC and an ICC profile in APP segments, but nothing is copied across.
About PFM
PFM is a minimal floating-point image format in the Netpbm style: a three-line text header and raw 32-bit floats. Research code uses it for HDR images, disparity and depth maps.
A PFM file is the text 'PF' (colour) or 'Pf' (greyscale), the width and height, and a scale factor whose sign gives the byte order (negative means little-endian), then 32-bit floats with rows stored from the bottom of the image up.
PFM files usually come from computer vision benchmarks (the Middlebury stereo disparity maps, for example), HDR research and renderers.
About JPG
JPEG is the universal photo format. It compresses by discarding fine detail the eye is least sensitive to, which makes photos small but blurs sharp edges and text if pushed too far.
A JPEG starts with the bytes FF D8 and is a run of marker segments: APP1 carries EXIF and often a thumbnail, APP2 an ICC profile, DQT the quantization tables that decide the quality, and SOS the compressed scan, which ends at FF D9.
When converting PFM to JPG makes sense
JPG is the better choice for photographs that need to open anywhere, while PFM suits HDR research, depth and disparity maps.
JPG strengths: Opens everywhere: every browser, phone, camera, printer and app; Small files for photographs; Adjustable quality from tiny to near-lossless. Drawbacks to weigh: No transparency; Lossy: every re-save loses a little more; Blocky artifacts around text, logos and sharp lines.
Limitations
- PFM stores raw measurements: depth and disparity maps hold distances rather than colours, so the converted picture is a visualisation, not a photograph.
- Values above 1.0 are clipped rather than tone-mapped.
- JPG has no transparency and no animation; it is the safest choice when a file must open on any device or upload form.
- Each time a JPG is edited and saved again it loses a little more detail, so keep your original for further editing.
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Frequently asked questions
Does converting PFM to JPG lose quality?
JPG is lossy, so detail the eye barely notices is discarded to save space. Float values are mapped to 8 bits per channel, and values above 1.0 clip.
What quality should I choose for JPG?
85 to 92 looks identical to the original for most photos. 70 to 80 saves a lot more with little visible change. Below 60, blocking appears around edges and in skies.
Which apps open JPG files?
Every operating system, browser, phone, photo kiosk and image editor.
Are my images uploaded anywhere?
No. Processing happens inside your browser with WebAssembly and Web Workers. The site only downloads the app code and codecs; your files never leave your device. You can confirm this with the live upload counter on the tool, or in your browser's network panel.
Can I process many files at once?
Yes. Drop a whole selection or folder. Files are processed in parallel on several worker threads, each result can be downloaded on its own, and everything can be saved as one ZIP.
Is it free? Is there a file limit or watermark?
It is free with no account, no watermark and no daily limit. The only limit is your device's memory: very large images (over roughly 100 megapixels) may be refused to keep the tab from crashing.