Convert legacy images for a digital archive

You may have old scans, photos, or graphics saved as BMP, GIF, or TIFF files. If you are organizing them for a digital archive, converting everything to one format can make files easier to handle, but a conversion can also change image quality, animation, transparency, or embedded information.

Use the Image Converter to make copies in common formats in your browser. Before you convert, decide what each image is for and keep the original files as your preservation copies.

Convert a copy of your images

1. Open the Image Converter and add copies of the images you want to prepare. It can convert JPG, PNG, WEBP, GIF, BMP, ICO, and TIFF files, with up to 50 images at once.
2. Choose an output format based on the images and how you plan to use them. If the images have different needs, convert separate groups rather than applying one format to every file.
3. Convert the files, then save the results in a separate folder from the originals. Use clear filenames so you can tell the converted archive copies apart.
4. Open a sample of the converted files and compare them with the originals. Check the edges, small text, colors, transparency, and any animation or unusual image details.
5. Keep a record of the source format, output format, and conversion date. This helps someone understand what changed if the archive is reviewed later.

The converter runs in your browser, so the files you open stay on your device. Keep a separate backup of both your originals and any converted copies.

Choose a format for the archive copy

No single format is best for every kind of image. The right choice depends on what the image contains and whether you need compact files, broad compatibility, or exact pixel preservation.

PNG for graphics and transparency

PNG is a practical choice for diagrams, screenshots, logos, and images that need transparent areas. It uses lossless compression, so it does not discard image detail during encoding. Converting a JPEG to PNG does not restore detail that was already lost when the JPEG was made.

TIFF for high-quality scans

TIFF is commonly used for high-quality scans and may be suitable when you want a large, detailed image file. Check that the software you use can open the TIFF files, and verify the conversion output rather than assuming every TIFF feature or embedded field will carry over.

JPG for compact photographs

JPG is widely supported and often keeps photographs much smaller than uncompressed formats. It uses lossy compression, which removes some image information. Repeatedly saving an image as JPG can add further compression damage, so do not use JPG as an intermediate format if you need to preserve every pixel from the source.

WEBP, GIF, BMP, and ICO for specific needs

WEBP can be a compact option for web use, but check compatibility with the software that will access the archive. GIF is associated with simple animation and a limited color palette. BMP files can be large, while ICO files are intended for icons. For GIFs, check whether the converted file still contains the animation you need, since seeing one frame does not confirm that every frame was preserved.

How to avoid archive problems

1. Keep the original files. Make a working copy before converting. If the converted version loses a detail or does not open in a future program, the untouched original gives you another source to work from.
2. Do not convert just to change the extension. Renaming picture.bmp to picture.png does not change its contents. Convert the image with a tool, then confirm that the resulting file opens as the format you selected.
3. Check image dimensions. Compare the width and height of a few converted files with the originals. A smaller file is not automatically a problem, but an unexpected reduction in dimensions can mean the image was resized.
4. Check metadata separately. Photos may include dates, camera details, location, or copyright information. Do not assume conversion preserves these fields. Keep the original if those details matter, and inspect the converted copy before treating it as a complete archival record.
5. Use consistent filenames and folders. Keep originals and converted copies in clearly labeled folders, and avoid overwriting source files. Include useful context in names when it is known, such as the event or approximate date, without changing the image's embedded information.
6. Make more than one backup. Store the archive in at least two separate locations, such as a local drive and another storage device. A converted file is not a backup by itself, and a single drive can fail.

What image conversion cannot guarantee

A file format describes how image data is stored, but it does not prove where an image came from, whether it is authentic, or whether all historical information has been retained. Conversion can change color handling, metadata, transparency, animation, and other format-specific features. Check these details against the original whenever they matter.

For long-term preservation, keep an untouched source, make access copies for everyday use, and document the conversion choices. The Image Converter supports common formats and batches of up to 50 images, but it does not replace a full digital preservation plan.