. BMP Sample File Download

BMP Sample File Download

BMP Sample File Download

Sample BMP Images

Sample 1 BMP file download

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Sample 2 BMP file download

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Sample 3 BMP file download

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Convert Your Image to BMP

Select any image file and click "Convert" to generate a BMP file.


BMP Image Format

The BMP (Bitmap) image format is a widely recognized raster graphics file format developed by Microsoft. Often referred to as a Device Independent Bitmap (DIB), the BMP format is known for its simplicity and ability to store high-quality image data with minimal loss.

Overview

BMP files are primarily used in the Windows operating system and support various color depths—from monochrome (1-bit) to true color (24-bit or 32-bit). Although BMP files typically have larger file sizes compared to compressed formats like JPEG or PNG, their uncompressed nature ensures that every pixel is stored with exact detail.

File Structure

A typical BMP file consists of several distinct sections:

  1. Bitmap File Header: A 14-byte header that includes the signature (commonly "BM"), file size, and the offset where pixel data begins.
  2. DIB Header: Contains detailed information about the image dimensions, color depth, and compression method. Several versions exist (such as BITMAPINFOHEADER, BITMAPV4HEADER, and BITMAPV5HEADER).
  3. Color Palette: Used for indexed color images (commonly in 1-, 4-, or 8-bit BMPs). This section maps pixel values to specific RGB colors.
  4. Pixel Data: The actual image data stored as a two-dimensional array of pixels. Each row is padded to a multiple of 4 bytes.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages

  • Simple and well-documented file structure.
  • Uncompressed data preserves the original image quality.
  • Widely supported by Windows applications and many image editors.

Disadvantages

  • Large file sizes due to minimal compression.
  • Not ideal for web use because of bandwidth and storage concerns.
  • Older BMP versions have limited support for advanced features like transparency.

Usage

  • Icons and interface graphics on Windows.
  • Screen captures and digital photographs during editing.
  • Applications that require precise pixel data for image processing.

However, for web applications and online image sharing, formats like JPEG, PNG, or GIF are generally preferred due to their efficient compression.

Example BMP File Header

42 4D 36 28 00 00 00 00 00 00 36 00 00 00

In this example, 42 4D represents the ASCII characters "BM", which identify the file as a BMP.

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