HDR vs PGM — Comparison & Free Converter
Fast, instant HDR to PGM conversion. No signup required. Just drop your .hdr file and get .pgm in seconds.
Batch Settings
About HDR to PGM Conversion
HDR or PGM — which format should you use? The answer depends on your needs. Here's a quick breakdown.
HDR (Radiance) is a high-dynamic-range image format used in lighting and rendering. It has niche platform support. PGM is a widely used file format. It has common platform support.
So when should you convert HDR to PGM? This conversion is ideal when you When you need a PGM file. This conversion helps you convert between formats quickly.
Converting HDR to PGM maintains high quality with CocoConvert's optimised encoder settings.
If you've decided PGM is the right choice, CocoConvert makes the conversion effortless. Upload your .hdr file, pick PGM, and click Convert — done in seconds. The converter runs on secure servers in Germany, powered by FFmpeg, Sharp, and qpdf. Files are encrypted via TLS and erased within 24 hours.
Free tier: 5 files/hour, 250 MB each. Pro: 100 files/hour, 5 GB each. Works in every modern browser on desktop and mobile.
How to Convert HDR to PGM
- 1
Choose your HDR file
Upload your .hdr file using drag-and-drop or the file browser. Batch mode lets you add multiple files.
- 2
Set format to PGM
Select .pgm from the output options. The converter applies optimal quality settings automatically.
- 3
Run the conversion
Click Convert. Server-side processing means your device stays fast — even for large image files.
- 4
Get your PGM file
Download your converted file instantly. Batch downloads are available as a zip archive.
What Happens When You Convert HDR to PGM
Your HDR file is decoded and re-encoded as PGM.
Your HDR file is uploaded and validated
The file is decoded (parsed into its raw data)
The data is re-encoded in PGM format
The converted file is ready for download
Format Comparison
HDR
.hdr file
| Extension | .hdr |
| MIME Type | image/vnd.radiance |
| Category | Image |
PGM
.pgm file
| Extension | .pgm |
| MIME Type | image/x-portable-graymap |
| Category | Image |
Should You Convert HDR to PGM?
When to Convert
- ✓When you need a PGM file
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I use HDR or PGM?
It depends on your goal. HDR preserves full quality. PGM preserves full quality. Choose based on whether file size or quality matters more for your use case.
Is PGM higher quality than HDR?
Not necessarily. Converting HDR to PGM maintains high quality with CocoConvert's optimised encoder settings. Quality depends on the compression type and settings, not just the format name.
Can I convert HDR to PGM on Mac and Windows?
Yes. CocoConvert is a web-based tool that works in all modern browsers — Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge — on any operating system including macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, and Android.
Is CocoConvert free for HDR to PGM?
Yes. Free users get 5 conversions per hour (250 MB each). Pro subscribers unlock 100 files per hour, 5 GB per file, and priority processing.
What tools does CocoConvert use for HDR to PGM?
CocoConvert uses FFmpeg for audio/video, Sharp for images, and qpdf for documents — the same open-source libraries used by Netflix, YouTube, and major enterprise platforms.
Versions are pinned in our worker Dockerfile and re-built via CI on every change.