What is a .PAM file?
PAM is the modern Netpbm image format, adding transparency and arbitrary channels.
- Did you know
- PAM stands for Portable Arbitrary Map and carries the Netpbm magic number P7.
- PAM was added to the Netpbm family in 2000 to bring an alpha channel and arbitrary tuples to the simple maps.
- Unlike the older Netpbm maps, PAM uses a short text header of key-value lines that names the channels, so a tool can read images it has never seen before.
- What Analyser reads
- Decode and preview extra still-image formats in pure JavaScript - Truevision TGA, QOI, Netpbm (PPM/PGM/PBM), PCX, farbfeld, WBMP, XBM/XPM, Sun Raster and SGI are fully rendered - and read header metadata from codec-heavy formats: Radiance HDR, DirectDraw Surface (DDS) game textures, OpenEXR, JPEG 2000, JPEG XR, EPS/PostScript, Windows WMF/EMF metafiles, Apple ICNS icons, CUR/ANI cursors, MNG and Lottie animations.
- Depth of analysis
- .PAM is an identification-grade format: Analyser recognises it from its bytes and decodes the header metadata it carries, rather than opening it in a full viewer. Formats that do get a full viewer are marked "Full" on the formats page.
- Open a .PAM file
- Drag a .PAM file onto the Analyser home page (or tap to pick one). It is identified entirely in your browser - nothing is uploaded, there is no account, and it works offline once installed.