PHOTOGRAPHY

PPM files.

The PPM file format stores color images. As Bitmap files, PPMs are rarely used today because they aren’t compatible with standard Windows software. Read on to explore the history of PPM files as well as their pros and cons.

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History of the PPM file

How to use a PPM file

Pros and cons of PPM files

How to open a PPM file

How to create and edit a PPM file

PPM files: frequently asked questions

What is a PPM file?

PPM is short for Portable Pixmap Format. Although these files are rare these days, you can spot one by looking out for the .PPM extension.

The PPM format emerged in the late 1980s to make sharing images between different platforms easier. Each PPM file uses a text format to store information about a particular image. Within each file, every pixel has a specific number (from 0 to 65536) and information about the height and width of an image, plus any whitespace data.

History of the PPM file.

The PPM format is one of the main file types contained in the Netpbm toolkit. Jef Poskanzer, a computer programmer, created the format in the late 1980s, along with similar file types such as PGM and PBM. Over the years, the Netpbm project has evolved into a programming library.

One of the primary uses of PPMs is as an intermediary file, allowing image information to be stored and exchanged before it gets converted into a more accessible format. PPMs are uncompressed 24-bit RGB files, which means storage space can be an issue for larger images.

How to use a PPM file.

You’re unlikely to come across PPM files on a regular basis. However, their main uses can include:

Storing basic color images.

You can store basic information about a color image in a PPM file. Each PPM usually follows the same format, starting with a “magic number,” which helps identify the file type before moving on to the dimensions and color matrix of the image.

Exchanging image information.

The basic text format used in PPM files means that you can transfer them across multiple platforms. This allows you to share image information quickly. More broadly, Netpbm tools can help if you’re struggling to convert an obscure image file type to another format.

Discover more raster file types

Pros and cons of PPM files.

Before using the PPM image format, it’s worth learning about its main advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages of PPM files.

It’s relatively straightforward to write programs capable of processing the PPM format.
Over time, PPM files have proven effective as an intermediary format to help transfer image information.
The Netpbm toolkit containing the PPM format is open-source — meaning you can use it across different types of software and for multiple purposes.

Disadvantages of PPM files.

Their lack of compression means that PPM files can be big, so they aren’t ideal for storing large-scale images.
PPMs are only compatible with certain software, so it can take a while to open one the first time.
Other than the basic colors, you’re not able to include much information about an image when using a PPM file.

How to open a PPM file.

To open a PPM file, you’ll first need to download a compatible graphics program to your Mac or Windows computer, such as Adobe Photoshop.

Open the folder containing your file and right-click on its name. Then select Open With and double-click on the program’s name to launch the file.

To open your PPM file in a web browser, try dragging and dropping it into the browser window.

How to create and edit a PPM file.

With Adobe Photoshop, you can open a PPM file and then convert it to another format. Just follow these steps:

Once your PPM file is open in Photoshop, click File, followed by Save As or Export.
Choose your preferred image file format by clicking on the Format option.
Give your new file a name and click Save or Export.
You should now have a new file in your preferred format.

PPM files: frequently asked questions.

Are PPMs raster or vector files?

PPM files use the raster format. Raster files use color pixels to display visual information and typically store digital photographs. In comparison, vector files use mathematical lines and coordinates to form images. This means they’re used more for logos, charts, and graphs — or anything that needs to scale to a variety of sizes.

Are PPM files compressed?

The PPM format is uncompressed, making it less ideal for storing large-scale images compared to other types of Bitmap files.

What other file formats does Netpbm contain?

PPM is just one of many file formats in the Netpbm toolkit. When working with digital graphics, you may also come across the Portable Graymap Format (PGM) and Portable Bitmap Format (PBM), which can work with grayscale and monochrome images.

Are PPM files commonplace?

The PPM format isn’t mainstream, and as a result, you’re unlikely to encounter it very often. However, some designers and programmers still use it to exchange basic color image data between different platforms.

Can I convert PPM files to other formats?

Yes, it’s common to convert PPM files to more typical formats. For example, you can work on an image using the PPM text format and then convert it to another raster file type, such as JPEG or PNG.