A BMP (Bitmap) file is a standard raster image file format widely used for storing bitmap or pixel-based images. Developed by Microsoft, BMP files are known for their simplicity and compatibility across various platforms. BMP files can store images with different color depths, including 1-bit monochrome, 4-bit grayscale, 8-bit indexed color, 16-bit high color, and 24-bit true color.
What is a BMP File?
BMP files consist of a header that defines the image’s characteristics (such as size, color depth, and resolution) followed by pixel data that represents the actual image. BMP is an uncompressed format, meaning it retains all the image data without any loss in quality, but this can result in larger file sizes compared to compressed formats like JPEG.
How to Open BMP Files
BMP files can be opened using a variety of image viewing and editing software. Here are some commonly used applications:
1. Microsoft Paint (Windows): Microsoft Paint, which comes pre-installed on Windows computers, is a basic image editing tool that supports BMP files. You can open, view, and perform simple edits on BMP images using Paint.
2. Windows Photos App (Windows): The built-in Photos app on Windows can open BMP files. It provides a user-friendly interface for viewing and organizing images.
3. Adobe Photoshop: Adobe Photoshop is a professional image editing software that supports a wide range of file formats, including BMP. It offers advanced editing capabilities for BMP images.
4. GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program): GIMP is a free and open-source raster graphics editor that supports BMP files. It provides powerful image editing features and is available on multiple platforms.
5. IrfanView: IrfanView is a lightweight and fast image viewer that supports BMP files, along with many other image formats. It’s a handy tool for quickly viewing images.
6. PreView (macOS): On macOS, the PreView application can open and display BMP files. PreView is the default image viewer on macOS systems.