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Convert WBMP to EXR - Legacy Graphics to HDR Format

Transform wireless bitmap files into high dynamic range EXR images for modern workflows.

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 WBMP to EXR?

WBMP (Wireless Application Protocol Bitmap) files are monochrome images from the early mobile era, while EXR is the professional HDR format used in Hollywood visual effects. Converting between these formats might seem unusual, but it serves specific creative and archival purposes.

If you have legacy WBMP files from old mobile devices or WAP-era archives, converting them to EXR preserves the data in a modern, future-proof format that professional software can easily work with.

How to Convert WBMP to EXR

  1. Upload your WBMP file - Drag and drop or click to select your wireless bitmap image
  2. Confirm EXR output - EXR format is selected for high dynamic range output
  3. Download your EXR file - Your converted file is ready for professional applications

The entire process happens in your browser. No software installation required, no account needed.

Understanding the Formats

WBMP: The Legacy Mobile Format

WBMP was designed in the late 1990s for early mobile phones using WAP (Wireless Application Protocol). These files are strictly monochrome - just black and white pixels with 1-bit color depth. The format was optimized for slow wireless networks and devices with minimal processing power.

Key WBMP characteristics:

  • 1-bit color depth (black and white only)
  • No grayscale or color support
  • Small file sizes for slow networks
  • Simple uncompressed pixel data

EXR: The Industry Standard HDR Format

OpenEXR was developed by Industrial Light & Magic and released in 2003. It has become the professional standard for visual effects, supporting 16-bit and 32-bit floating-point pixels with high dynamic range. In our testing, EXR files maintain exceptional precision for compositing work.

Key EXR characteristics:

  • 16-bit or 32-bit floating-point color
  • High dynamic range support
  • Multiple channel storage (RGB, alpha, depth)
  • Lossless and lossy compression options

Use Cases for WBMP to EXR Conversion

Digital Archiving

Organizations with legacy mobile content from the early 2000s can convert WBMP files to EXR for long-term preservation. EXR is well-supported by professional archival systems and will remain readable far into the future.

Retro Art Projects

Artists working with retro aesthetics can use vintage WBMP graphics as source material. Converting to EXR allows for professional color grading and compositing in applications like Nuke, After Effects, or DaVinci Resolve.

VFX Integration

When incorporating legacy monochrome graphics into modern visual effects pipelines, EXR format ensures compatibility with industry-standard compositing software. The format preserves the crisp edges of WBMP's binary pixels while enabling HDR workflow integration.

What to Expect

Converting WBMP to EXR transforms a simple 1-bit image into a full HDR container. The original black and white values map to floating-point representations, giving you a proper EXR file that any professional software can open.

Keep in mind that this conversion cannot add color or detail that does not exist in the original. WBMP files are monochrome by design, so your resulting EXR will contain only black and white values - but in a format that allows for sophisticated manipulation if needed.

For adding color to monochrome images, convert to WBMP to PNG first, then colorize in an image editor before converting to EXR if HDR output is required.

Alternative Formats

Depending on your needs, other target formats may be more appropriate:

  • WBMP to PNG - Best for web use or general compatibility with lossless quality
  • WBMP to JPG - Universal format for sharing and smaller file sizes
  • WBMP to TIFF - Professional publishing and print workflows
  • WBMP to EXR - VFX pipelines and HDR archival (this conversion)

Choose EXR specifically when working with professional compositing software or when future HDR manipulation is planned.

Browser-Based Processing

Our converter works entirely in your browser on any modern device:

  • Windows, Mac, Linux, Chromebook
  • Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge
  • Tablets and smartphones

Your files stay on your device throughout the conversion process. Nothing is uploaded to external servers.

Pro Tip

After converting WBMP to EXR, you can use compositing software to apply LUTs or color grading to transform the monochrome image into stylized colored output while maintaining the sharp pixel edges characteristic of early mobile graphics.

Common Mistake

Expecting color or detail to appear after conversion. WBMP is strictly 1-bit monochrome - the EXR conversion preserves this data precisely but cannot enhance or colorize it automatically.

Best For

Integrating legacy mobile graphics into professional VFX workflows, archiving vintage WBMP collections in a future-proof HDR format, or preparing retro monochrome art for compositing projects.

Not Recommended

If you just need to view or share the image, convert to PNG or JPG instead. EXR is overkill for casual use and requires specialized software to open. Reserve WBMP to EXR for professional or archival purposes.

Frequently Asked Questions

WBMP (Wireless Application Protocol Bitmap) is a monochrome image format from the early mobile era. Created for WAP phones in the late 1990s, WBMP files contain only black and white pixels with 1-bit color depth. They were designed for slow wireless networks and limited device capabilities.

EXR (OpenEXR) is a high dynamic range image format developed by Industrial Light & Magic for visual effects work. It supports 16-bit and 32-bit floating-point color, multiple channels, and both lossless and lossy compression. Major film studios use EXR for compositing, color grading, and 3D rendering.

No. Conversion cannot add information that doesn't exist in the source file. WBMP files are monochrome (black and white only), so the resulting EXR will contain the same black and white values in a floating-point format. You can colorize the image afterward using professional software.

Common reasons include archiving legacy mobile content in a modern professional format, integrating retro graphics into VFX pipelines, and repurposing vintage monochrome images for artistic projects that require HDR workflow compatibility.

EXR files require software that supports HDR images. Professional applications like Adobe Photoshop, After Effects, Nuke, DaVinci Resolve, and Blender open EXR natively. Free viewers like DJV and mrViewer also support the format. Standard image viewers may not display EXR correctly.

Yes. The conversion preserves all pixel data from your original WBMP file. Since WBMP contains only black and white values, these map precisely to the EXR floating-point format without any quality loss.

EXR files are significantly larger because they store high-precision floating-point data for each pixel. A tiny WBMP file (often just a few KB) may become several times larger as an EXR. The exact size depends on the image dimensions and EXR compression settings.

Professional compositing and editing software handles EXR: Adobe After Effects and Photoshop, Foundry Nuke, Blackmagic DaVinci Resolve, Blender, and many 3D rendering applications. These tools can take full advantage of EXR's HDR capabilities and multi-channel support.

No. The conversion happens entirely in your browser using local processing. Your WBMP files never leave your device, and the resulting EXR files are generated locally. This ensures complete privacy for your images.

Both are HDR formats, but EXR is the industry standard for visual effects work with broader software support and more features. HDR (Radiance) is an older format. For professional VFX pipelines, EXR is the better choice. For general HDR photography, either works.

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