PPM files exist as 3 different types. Please find information about each of them below.
Type 1: Portable Pixmap Image
PPM is short for Portable Pixmap Format. The PPM format emerged in the late 1980s to make sharing images between platforms easier. In the late 1980s, Jef Poskanzer created the PPM image format and too...
General Information
| Title | PPM File Extension |
| Extension | .ppm |
| Full Form | Portable Pixmap File Format |
| File Type | Image File |
| Developer | Jef Poskanzer |
| MIME Type | image/x-portable-pixmap |
File Function
| Primary Function | Store images |
| Additional Functions | Simple, Uncompressed |
| Features | Plain text, Binary |
File Characteristics
| Quality | High |
| Supports Layers | No |
| Supports Transparency | No |
| Editable | Yes |
Use Cases
| Image Editing | Yes |
| Scientific Research | Yes |
| Cross-platform Imaging Tasks | Yes |
Security and Practices
| Security Risks | Low |
| Best Practices | Regular updates, Format validation |
Historical/Version Information
| Initial Release | 1988 |
| Latest Version | Part of Netpbm (ongoing updates) |
Associated Types
| Similar Extensions | .pbm, .pgm, .pnm |
Software Compatibility
| Software | Usage Policy | OS Compatibility |
|---|---|---|
 GIMP |
Free | Windows, Mac, Linux |
 Adobe Photoshop |
Subscription | Windows, Mac |
 Netpbm |
Free | Multiplatform |
Type 2: Post Programmable Memory File
In the late 1980s, Jef Poskanzer created the PPM image format. He added tools to Pbmplus that could create and read PPM images. Pbmplus was his library used to manage PBM, PGM, and PPM images. Many pe...
General Information
| Title | PPM File Extension |
| Extension | .ppm |
| Full Form | Portable Pixmap File Format |
| File Type | Image File |
| Developer | Jef Poskanzer |
| MIME Type | image/x-portable-pixmap |
File Function
| Primary Function | Store image |
| Additional Functions | Easy conversion |
| Features | Simple, Uncompressed |
File Characteristics
| Quality | High, Lossless |
| Supports Layers | No |
| Supports Transparency | No |
| Editable | Yes |
Use Cases
| Image Editing | Yes |
| Graphic Design | Yes |
| Scientific Imaging | Yes |
Security and Practices
| Security Risks | Low |
| Best Practices | Validate, Convert |
Historical/Version Information
| Initial Release | 1988 |
| Latest Version | Netpbm 10.73.32 (2020) |
Associated Types
| Similar Extensions | .pbm, .pgm, .pnm |
Software Compatibility
| Software | Usage Policy | OS Compatibility |
|---|---|---|
| GIMP |
Free | Windows, Mac, Linux |
| Adobe Photoshop |
Subscription | Windows, Mac |
| Netpbm |
Free | Multiplatform |
Type 3: Flipnote Studio Animation
The .PPM file format is mainly used by Flipnote Studio to store animations on the Nintendo DSi. These animation files can also be found with the .LST and .PLS formats. The PPM format specifies how bit...
General Information
| Title | PPM File Extension |
| Extension | .ppm |
| Full Form | Portable Pixmap File Format |
| File Type | Image File |
| Developer | Jef Poskanzer |
| MIME Type | image/x-portable-pixmap |
File Function
| Primary Function | Store image |
| Additional Functions | Simple, Uncompressed |
| Features | Portable, ASCII/Binary |
File Characteristics
| Quality | High, Uncompressed |
| Supports Layers | No |
| Supports Transparency | No |
| Editable | Yes |
Use Cases
| Image Editing | Yes |
| Image Conversion | Yes |
| Scientific Visualization | Yes |
Security and Practices
| Security Risks | Low |
| Best Practices | Scan for viruses, Regular backups |
Historical/Version Information
| Initial Release | 1988 |
| Latest Update | Continuously updated |
Associated Types
| Similar Extensions | .pbm, .pgm, .pnm |
Software Compatibility
| Software | Usage Policy | OS Compatibility |
|---|---|---|
| GIMP |
Free | Windows, Mac, Linux |
| Adobe Photoshop |
Paid | Windows, Mac |
| Netpbm |
Free | Cross-platform |