WebP to PFM Converter
Convert WebP to PFM in your browser. WebP files usually come from websites, Chrome's Save image as, CDNs and Android apps; PFM is the better fit for HDR research, depth and disparity maps. You get a 32-bit float colour PFM in linear light. Nothing is uploaded.
- Processed locally
- No upload, no wait
- No sign-up
- No watermark
Drop images here
or choose files · paste with Ctrl/⌘ V
WebP expected · other image formats also work
How to use WebP to PFM
- 1
Add your WebP files: drop them here, choose them, or paste from the clipboard.
- 2
Pick the colour that replaces transparent areas, since PFM has none.
- 3
Click Convert. Each file is decoded and encoded in a background thread on this device.
- 4
Download the .pfm files one at a time or together as a ZIP.
Why use Aback Images for webp to pfm
Where the PFM goes next
PFM opens in ImageMagick, OpenCV, Photoshop, Netpbm and HDR research tools.
PFM next to WebP
The PFM is written uncompressed, so expect it to be several times larger than the WebP, which stores lossy VP8 coding or lossless VP8L.
No new artefacts
WebP is already lossy, since it stores lossy VP8 coding or lossless VP8L; the PFM keeps the decoded pixels uncompressed, so this step adds no compression damage of its own.
Processed on your device
Your images are decoded, edited and encoded inside this browser tab by Web Workers. Nothing is uploaded to a server.
WebP vs PFM
What changes from WebP to PFM
Encoding: the WebP uses lossy VP8 coding or lossless VP8L; PFM uses none, and the download is a 32-bit float colour PFM in linear light.
Bit depth: 8 bits per channel in the WebP; PFM allows 32-bit floating point per channel, and the PFM written here has 32-bit float per channel.
Colour: RGB; lossy WebP stores colour at half resolution (4:2:0) in the WebP; PFM supports RGB ('PF') or greyscale ('Pf'), in linear values, written here as linear-light RGB.
Transparency: the WebP stores it as a separate alpha plane, available in lossy as well as lossless files; the PFM has none, so transparent areas are filled with the colour you choose.
Animation: ANMF frame chunks, each with its own delay and blending; the PFM holds one image, so only the first frame is converted.
Metadata: the WebP can carry EXIF, XMP and ICC chunks; PFM can carry none beyond the header, but nothing is copied across.
About WebP
WebP is Google's web image format. It supports lossy and lossless compression, transparency and animation, and is typically 25 to 35 percent smaller than JPEG at the same visual quality.
A WebP is a RIFF file: 'RIFF', a length, 'WEBP', then chunks. A simple lossy file is one VP8 chunk and a lossless one is VP8L; the extended VP8X header announces alpha, animation, ICC, EXIF or XMP chunks.
WebP files usually come from websites, Chrome's Save image as, CDNs and Android apps.
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.
When converting WebP to PFM makes sense
PFM is the better choice for HDR research, depth and disparity maps, while WebP suits images on websites and in apps.
PFM strengths: Full 32-bit float precision; Trivial to read and write. Drawbacks to weigh: Uncompressed and very large; No alpha; Unknown to most apps.
Limitations
- WebP images saved from websites are often already resized and compressed for the page, so the result cannot be sharper than that copy.
- No range is added: the PFM holds the 8-bit picture in linear light, and nothing in it is brighter than the original white.
- PFM stores 12 bytes per pixel, so files are very large.
- Values are linear light; viewers that show raw values without a display curve make the image look darker.
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Frequently asked questions
Does converting WebP to PFM lose quality?
PFM is written uncompressed, so the pixels are stored exactly as decoded. Artefacts already in the WebP stay, but nothing new is lost.
What happens to transparency when converting WebP to PFM?
WebP stores transparency as a separate alpha plane, available in lossy as well as lossless files. PFM has no alpha channel, so transparent pixels are composited onto a solid colour, white unless you pick another. To keep transparency, convert to PNG, WebP or AVIF instead.
Will my animated WebP stay animated?
No. PFM holds a single image, so only the first frame is kept. Convert to animated WebP, APNG or GIF to keep the motion, or export every frame with the GIF Frame Extractor.
Which apps open PFM files?
ImageMagick, OpenCV, Photoshop, Netpbm and HDR research tools. It does not open in web browsers.
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.