The bitmap image file format or bmp file for short, is a raster graphics image file. It uses a dot matrix data structure to represent pixelated points of color and to store digital image information. The format optionally supports compression and has wide cross platform support on all the major computer operating systems. Because bmp files are raster graphics files, image resolution is constrained meaning images in this format will not scale without loss in quality. This is in contrast to vector graphics images that can scale to arbitrary resolutions.
The .ICO filename extension refers to the ICON image file format originally developed by Microsoft. The extension is used to represent computer icon images of varying sizes designed for the operating system Microsoft Windows. Its use today has extended to developing icons for programs designed using the Microsoft developer's suite Visual Studio and other applications. Similar to other device independent bitmap file formats, the ICON file format is also in the raster graphics class of image formats where each individual pixel is part of an orthogonal dot matrix data structure with support for a limited palette of color information. As a resource file, the .ico file format has its strength in contextual use. This allows for multiple icon images of different color depth or size to be stored within the resource file and used when appropriate.
FreeFileConvert uses tuned encoding for BMP to ICO conversions, preserving clarity while trimming file size. Finished audio streams instantly across phones, tablets, desktops, and modern browsers without extra tweaks.
Upload BMP files from desktop, tablet, or cloud storage, queue multiple jobs, and let the converter finish autonomously. Return whenever convenient to download synchronized ICO results on any device you rely on.
Process up to 5 files sized 1000 MB per batch without splitting queues manually. Mixed-format uploads convert together, producing consistent ICO audio with dependable progress tracking.
Because bmp files can be uncompressed, it is capable of supporting larger file sizes and thus higher resolution and higher quality images. This capability makes bmp files inappropriate for digital distribution via webpages or through bandwidth limited networks. Pixels in a bitmap support deferent color depths from 1 bit of either black or white, to grayscale which is 8 bits, to finally 24 bit RGB giving a possible 16777216 possible colors. Color depth can go as high as 32 bits however this is rarely encountered or needed in practice.
Each .ico file begins with an icon directory specifying the number of images, color depth, and size. Through its history, ICON file formats have come from containing images at a resolution from 32x32 in monochrome, to containing images up to 256x256 in resolution with up to 16.7 million colors.
Upload your image file in the BMP format from your device, Dropbox, or Google Drive.
Select ICO as the output format and click Convert. Adjust optional settings if needed.
Download the converted image file. Each file stays available for up to 5 downloads.