BMP Analyzer

Upload your BMP file to analyze its dimensions, color depth, compression, and file integrity

Upload your BMP file

Select your bitmap image file to analyze its properties and quality

About BMP Files

BMP (Bitmap) is a raster image format developed by Microsoft and IBM that stores bitmap digital images, originally for Windows and OS/2 operating systems. BMP files are typically uncompressed, resulting in large file sizes but maintaining exact pixel data without quality loss.

Key BMP Features

The BMP format offers several characteristics that make it suitable for specific use cases:

Uncompressed Quality - Most BMP files store raw pixel data without compression, preserving perfect image quality
Multiple Color Depths - Supports 1, 4, 8, 16, 24, and 32-bit color depths for different quality needs
RLE Compression - Optional Run-Length Encoding (RLE) compression for 4-bit and 8-bit images
Device Independence - Also known as DIB (Device-Independent Bitmap) for consistent display across devices
Alpha Channel - 32-bit BMPs can include transparency information
Resolution Data - Stores pixels per meter for accurate physical dimensions

Technical Details About BMP

BMP files start with "BM" (0x424D) signature followed by file size and pixel data offset

Multiple header types exist: BITMAPCOREHEADER, BITMAPINFOHEADER, BITMAPV4HEADER, BITMAPV5HEADER

Pixel data is typically stored bottom-up (last row first) unless height is negative

Each scan line is padded to 4-byte boundary for alignment efficiency

Color table (palette) required for 1, 4, and 8-bit images, optional for higher depths

32-bit BMPs can use the alpha channel for transparency or store it as XRGB

BI_BITFIELDS compression allows custom color masks for 16 and 32-bit BMPs

BMP Versions and Compatibility

Several BMP header formats have been developed over time:

BMP v2.x - BITMAPCOREHEADER (OS/2 1.x)
BMP v3.x - BITMAPINFOHEADER (Windows 3.x) - Most common
BMP v4.x - BITMAPV4HEADER (Windows 95/NT 4.0)
BMP v5.x - BITMAPV5HEADER (Windows 98/2000)

All modern operating systems and image viewers support BMP files, though some may have limitations with newer header formats or specific compression types.

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