CONVERT
TIFF → XBM
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Fast, secure TIFF to XBM conversion. No registration required.
Setup: TIFF is the archival multi-page master format used in scanning, print and document pipelines. Goal: an interchangeable XBM. A TIFF → XBM operation is one of the simplest image jobs there is: same pixel grid, different wrapper. What genuinely changes is how lossy the codec is, whether alpha survives, and how large the final file ends up. KaijuConverter picks safe defaults for each of those and lets you override them under Advanced. One more beat. TIFF is the archival multi-page master format used in scanning, print and document pipelines. Receiving format: XBM is an X Window System bitmap format stored as plain C source code.
TIFF Image
Source formatTIFF is a flexible, high-quality image format widely used in publishing, printing, and professional photography. It supports multiple compression methods and color spaces including CMYK.
X BitMap
Target formatXBM (X BitMap) is a monochrome image format used in the X Window System for cursor and icon bitmaps. The format stores pixel data as C source code arrays, making it directly includable in X11 programs.
Why convert TIFF to XBM
The real reason to move from TIFF to XBM is almost never picture quality — both raster formats store essentially the same pixels. It is about the tools downstream: which editors open the file natively, which CMSes upload it without transcoding, which social platforms accept it. Picking XBM solves those edge cases at the cost of a short conversion step.
HOW TO CONVERT
TIFF → XBM
Provide the TIFF
Click or drag to upload. We accept a single TIFF file per job, with an optional queue of additional images for batch mode.
Encode to XBM
The conversion decodes the TIFF, resolves the colour space to sRGB and writes the XBM container around the pixel data.
Save the XBM
The download is streamed back over HTTPS. If you uploaded multiple files, a ZIP with all XBM outputs is produced instead.
Common Use Cases
Share across platforms
Send XBM files to anyone without worrying about whether they have the right software for TIFF.
Embed in documents
Drop XBM output into Word, Google Docs, PowerPoint, Notion or a website without conversion warnings.
Optimize size
XBM often produces smaller files than TIFF for web, email and storage.
Archive & future-proof
Store in a widely-supported format that will still open on future operating systems without legacy plugins.
TIFF vs XBM — Strengths and limitations
What each format does best, and where it falls short.
TIFF Strengths
- Lossless by default — no generation loss on successive edits and saves.
- Supports any bit depth (1 to 32 bits per channel), any color model, any number of channels.
- Extensible tag system means vendor-specific data survives alongside standard tags.
- Multi-page containers are perfect for scanned documents, faxes, and DICOM-like stacks.
- Industry-standard for archival, museums, scientific imaging, and high-end print prepress.
Limitations
- File sizes are huge compared to JPEG/WebP/AVIF — often 10-30× larger.
- Not a web format — no browser displays TIFF natively.
- Ambiguous spec areas mean some TIFFs only open correctly in the tool that created them.
XBM Strengths
- Valid C source — embeddable.
- Text-editable.
- Tiny files.
- X11-native since 1989.
Limitations
- 1-bit monochrome only.
- Legacy — modern UIs use PNG/SVG.
- No compression.
TIFF vs XBM — Technical specifications
Side-by-side comparison of the technical details.
TIFF
- MIME type
- image/tiff
- Extensions
- .tif, .tiff
- Standard
- TIFF 6.0 (1992); BigTIFF extension for 64-bit offsets
- Max file size
- 4 GB (TIFF); 2^64 bytes (BigTIFF)
- Compression options
- None, LZW, Deflate, JPEG, CCITT G3/G4, PackBits, JBIG
XBM
- MIME type
- image/x-xbitmap
- Extension
- .xbm
- Bit depth
- 1-bit
- Format
- C source code
| Specification | TIFF | XBM |
|---|---|---|
| MIME type | image/tiff | image/x-xbitmap |
| Extensions | .tif, .tiff | — |
| Standard | TIFF 6.0 (1992); BigTIFF extension for 64-bit offsets | — |
| Max file size | 4 GB (TIFF); 2^64 bytes (BigTIFF) | — |
| Compression options | None, LZW, Deflate, JPEG, CCITT G3/G4, PackBits, JBIG | — |
| Extension | — | .xbm |
| Bit depth | — | 1-bit |
| Format | — | C source code |
TIFF vs XBM — Typical file sizes
Approximate file sizes for common scenarios.
TIFF
- Scanned A4 page (300 dpi, B&W) 100-300 KB
- Scanned A4 page (600 dpi, color) 15-40 MB
- Print-quality magazine photo 30-150 MB
- Satellite GeoTIFF tile 50 MB - 5 GB
XBM
- Mouse cursor (16×16) < 1 KB
Quality & Compatibility
TIFF-to-XBM conversion does not change the visible content. Quality is capped by the TIFF decode; re-encoding a lossy source at high quality cannot recover detail that was already discarded. For archival masters, keep the original TIFF alongside the XBM copy.
Tips for Best Results
- Large TIFF files may look identical to small XBM files for photographic content; pick quality based on end use, not headline megapixels.
- For print, export XBM at 300 DPI minimum and check that the colour profile embedded matches the print shop specification.
- Batch-convert related TIFF images in one pass so they share identical encoder settings and look consistent side-by-side.
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on the codecs involved. If both TIFF and XBM are lossy, the pixels are re-encoded and a small amount of detail is discarded — invisible at default quality settings on photographs. If XBM is lossless (PNG, TIFF, BMP) the output keeps every pixel of the decoded TIFF exactly, but cannot recover detail that TIFF had already compressed away.
Often yes, especially when XBM is lossless. TIFF tuned for efficient web delivery will usually produce smaller files than XBM's default settings. If file size matters, drop the quality in Advanced or pick a more compressed target format instead.
KaijuConverter uploads over HTTPS, processes the image in an isolated container and deletes both the source and the output within two hours. No account is required, file contents are never logged, and we do not use uploads to train any model. For confidential material, the paid plan includes a data-processing agreement.
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Related Guides
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Read guideTIFF: Tagged Image File Format & Professional Image Archive
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Read guideSecure & Private Conversion
Your files are encrypted during transfer, processed in isolated containers, and automatically deleted within 60 minutes. We never read, share, or store your data.