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Convert EXR to BMP - HDR Renders to Universal Bitmap

Turn your HDR renders into universally viewable bitmap images instantly.

Step 1: Upload your files

You can also Drag and drop files.

Step 2: Choose format
Step 3: Convert files

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Why Convert EXR to BMP?

You finished your VFX render or 3D scene in Blender, Maya, or Nuke. The output is an EXR file with beautiful high dynamic range data. But when you send it to a client or colleague, they can't open it.

EXR (OpenEXR) was created by Industrial Light & Magic for professional visual effects work. It stores 16-bit or 32-bit floating-point color data that most standard image viewers simply don't support. BMP, on the other hand, opens on virtually every computer without special software.

Converting your EXR files to BMP gives you an instantly shareable version of your work that anyone can view.

How to Convert EXR to BMP

  1. Upload your EXR file - Drag and drop or click to select your OpenEXR image
  2. Confirm BMP as output - BMP is selected as the universal output format
  3. Download your bitmap - Your converted image is ready for sharing

The entire process takes seconds. No plugins, no software installation, no account required.

EXR vs BMP: Technical Comparison

Understanding the differences helps you know what to expect from the conversion:

  • Color Depth - EXR supports 16-bit and 32-bit floating-point per channel. BMP typically uses 8-bit per channel (24-bit total for RGB)
  • Dynamic Range - EXR captures extreme brightness values useful for compositing. BMP displays a standard visible range
  • File Size - EXR files can be large due to HDR data. BMP files are uncompressed but smaller for standard images
  • Compatibility - EXR requires specialized software. BMP opens in any image viewer
  • Use Case - EXR for production work. BMP for previews and sharing

In our testing, EXR files often exceed 50MB while the BMP equivalent comes out between 5-15MB depending on resolution.

Common Use Cases

Client Previews

Your client doesn't have Nuke or Photoshop with EXR plugins. Convert to BMP so they can see your work immediately without downloading specialized software.

Quick Documentation

Need to include a render in a presentation or document? BMP embeds reliably in Word, PowerPoint, and PDF files where EXR would fail.

Web Uploads

Most websites reject EXR uploads. Convert to BMP when you need to post your work somewhere that doesn't support professional formats. For web use, you might also consider EXR to PNG for better compression.

What Happens to HDR Data?

EXR stores floating-point values that exceed the normal 0-255 range. When converting to BMP, these values get tone-mapped to fit the standard range. Extremely bright areas may clip to white, and subtle shadow detail might compress.

This is expected behavior. BMP is designed for display, not production editing. Keep your original EXR files for any further compositing or color grading work.

Works With Any EXR Source

Our converter handles EXR files from all major 3D and compositing applications:

  • Blender, Maya, 3ds Max, Cinema 4D
  • Nuke, After Effects, Fusion
  • Arnold, V-Ray, Redshift, Octane renders
  • Houdini simulations and renders

Whether your EXR uses 16-bit half-float or 32-bit full-float precision, the converter processes it correctly.

Browser-Based Processing

Convert EXR to BMP directly in your browser:

  • Windows, Mac, Linux, Chromebook
  • Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge
  • No software to install or update

Your files stay on your device during conversion. This matters when working with confidential VFX projects or unreleased content.

Pro Tip

If your EXR contains multiple render passes, export each pass separately before converting to BMP. This lets you share specific elements like the beauty pass or ambient occlusion individually rather than losing them in a flattened conversion.

Common Mistake

Converting production EXR files to BMP and discarding the originals. BMP can't store the HDR data needed for compositing adjustments. Always keep your original EXR files for any post-production work.

Best For

Quick client previews when the recipient doesn't have VFX software installed. BMP opens instantly on any computer without requiring Photoshop, Nuke, or specialized plugins.

Not Recommended

Don't use BMP as your delivery format for final work. If the end use is web or digital, convert to PNG or JPG instead. BMP files are unnecessarily large for most modern applications.

Frequently Asked Questions

EXR (OpenEXR) is a high dynamic range image format created by Industrial Light & Magic for visual effects and 3D rendering. It supports 16-bit and 32-bit floating-point color data, multiple channels, and lossless compression. It's the industry standard for VFX compositing.

You'll lose HDR data since BMP only supports standard 8-bit per channel color. Extreme highlights may clip and shadow detail may compress. The image will still look good for viewing purposes, but keep your original EXR for any production work.

EXR is a professional format that requires specialized software like Photoshop, GIMP with plugins, Blender, or dedicated VFX applications. Standard image viewers on Windows and Mac don't support it natively.

BMP opens universally on any computer without special software. It's uncompressed, so files are larger than JPG or PNG, but it ensures maximum compatibility. For web sharing, consider PNG for smaller files.

Multi-channel EXR files will be flattened to a single RGB image during conversion. Individual render passes (diffuse, specular, depth, etc.) stored in the EXR won't be preserved separately in the BMP output.

Conversion typically takes a few seconds. Larger EXR files with higher resolution or 32-bit float data may take slightly longer, but most conversions complete in under 10 seconds.

EXR files come from 3D software like Blender, Maya, 3ds Max, Cinema 4D, and Houdini. Compositing apps like Nuke, After Effects, and Fusion also use EXR. Render engines including Arnold, V-Ray, Redshift, and Octane output EXR format.

PNG is generally better for web use due to smaller file sizes with lossless compression. BMP is better when you need guaranteed compatibility with older systems or specific software that prefers uncompressed formats.

Yes. Upload multiple EXR files and convert them all to BMP at once. This is useful when you have a sequence of renders or multiple versions to share with a client.

No. The conversion happens directly in your browser on your device. Your files aren't uploaded anywhere, which is important for confidential VFX projects or unreleased content.

EXR Conversions & Related Converters

Quick access to the most commonly used file conversions.