File Extension Library


.PGM File Extension

  • Developer by: Jef Poskanzer
  • Category: Raster Image Files
  • Format: Text and Binary

What are .PGM files and how to open them?

Can't open .PGM file? Are you wondering what it contains? On our site we will explain to you what this file is, what it is used for and what software opens the .PGM file.

What is a .PGM file extension?

.PGM file extension is created by Jef Poskanzer. .PGM has been classified as Raster Image Files. The format of .PGM file is Text and Binary.

.PGM is Portable Gray Map Image

A PGM file is a grayscale image file saved in the portable gray map (PGM) format and encoded with one or two bytes (8 or 16 bits) per pixel. It contains header information and a grid of numbers that represent different shades of gray from black (0) to white (up to 65,536). PGM files are typically stored in ASCII text format, but also have a binary representation.

PGM files include a header that defines the PGM format type ("P2" for text or "P5" for binary), image width and height, and the maximum number of shades. While binary PGM files may contain multiple images, ASCII PGM files may only include one image.

The PGM format is one of several image formats defined by the Netpbm project, which is an open source package of graphics programs. Other formats include the portable bitmap (.PBM) format and portable pixmap (.PPM) format.

NOTE: PGM files may also be called "portable greymap" files.

List of all softwares that can open the Portable Gray Map Image
Windows
File Viewer Plus
GIMP
Corel PaintShop Pro 2019
ACD Systems Canvas X 2019
ACD Systems ACDSee 2018
Inkscape
Netpbm
Adobe Photoshop with CartaPGM plug-in
Mac
GIMP
Inkscape
Netpbm
Adobe Photoshop with CartaPGM plug-in
Linux
GIMP
Inkscape
Netpbm
Android
File Viewer for Android

How to fix problems with .PGM files

  1. You need to update the application that you normally use to open .PGM files. Only the latest version of the software supports the current .PGM file format
  2. You need to check the .PGM file for viruses. To do this, you need to scan it with a popular antivirus (Norton, Nod32, Kaspersky, Dr.Web, etc.)