What is PBM?

Portable BitMap (PBM) is a simple monochrome image format that stores each pixel as either black or white in an ASCII text representation.

What is RAF?

Fujifilm Raw Format (RAF) contains raw sensor data from Fujifilm X-Series and GFX cameras with unique X-Trans sensor processing.

When Should You Use PBM vs RAF?

PBM vs RAF: Key Differences

• •PBM uses lossless compression while RAF uses lossless compression — both take the same approach to file size management.
• •Since both PBM and RAF use lossless compression, the quality characteristics are comparable — differences in file size come down to how efficiently each format implements compression.
• •How transparency is handled: RAF supports transparency, so alpha information is preserved during conversion.
• •File sizes: PBM files typically range Very compact for monochrome images and RAF files 20-50MB per photo.
• •Primary audience: PBM is built for simple image processing, scientific visualization scenarios, while RAF focuses on fujifilm photography, film simulation processing — pick the format that matches your output requirement.

Advantages of PBM

• ✓PBM compresses data using lossless methods, keeping file sizes manageable for Simple image processing, scientific visualization.
• ✓Industry-wide support means PBM files open anywhere — from legacy systems to the latest devices.
• ✓Lossless quality makes PBM the gold standard for archival and master copies.
• ✓From professional software to open-source alternatives, PBM works out of the box.

Advantages of RAF

• ✓RAF uses lossless compression tailored for Fujifilm photography, film simulation processing.
• ✓RAF is supported natively on virtually every device, browser, and operating system.
• ✓RAF files are bit-for-bit perfect, preserving every pixel and sample for professional work.
• ✓RAF integrates seamlessly with all major photo editing tools and workflows.

Common Use Cases for PBM to RAF Conversion

• Digital art portfolios
• Brochure and flyer design
• Newsletter graphics
• Video thumbnail creation
• Certificate and badge design
• Websites and online content

Industry Applications

Best Practices for PBM to RAF Conversion

• →When converting PBM to RAF, check whether RAF supports transparency — if not, your transparent areas will be filled with a solid color
• →Use RAF for maximum quality archival and PBM for lossless workflows
• →Optimize images for web to reduce page load times — tools like our converter let you adjust quality settings before conversion
• →Maintain original aspect ratio to avoid distortion during conversion
• →Always keep a backup of your original files before converting
• →Choose the appropriate quality settings for your specific use case

Related Article

Troubleshooting PBM to RAF Conversion

• !RAF shows visible compression artifacts → lower the compression level or switch to a lossless variant
• !The converted RAF image looks washed out → the source PBM likely uses a wider color space than RAF supports
• !RAF file is much larger than expected → check if the conversion preserved an unnecessarily high resolution
• !Text in the converted RAF looks fuzzy → text-heavy images benefit from higher quality settings or a different output format

Related Image Converters

All Image Formats

More Image tools

Related Tools