Convert ART to XBM

Understanding ART and XBM file formats

ART is a proprietary image file format developed by America Online (AOL) for compressing graphics, primarily used for online images to reduce download times. It is not widely supported outside AOL software and is considered obsolete today.

XBM (X BitMap) is a monochrome (black and white) image file format used primarily in Unix-based systems for storing simple graphics, such as icons and cursors. XBM files are stored as C source code, making them easy to include in software development projects.

Why convert ART to XBM?

Converting ART to XBM is useful when you need to use legacy AOL images in Unix or Linux environments, especially for software development or user interface customization where XBM is supported.

How to convert ART to XBM

Since ART is a rare and proprietary format, direct conversion tools are limited. The best approach is to first convert ART to a more common format (like PNG or BMP), then convert that file to XBM.

Recommended software for conversion

• IrfanView (Windows):
  • Open your ART file in IrfanView.
  • Go to File → Save As and choose PNG or BMP as the output format.
• GIMP (Windows, macOS, Linux):
  • Open the PNG or BMP file in GIMP.
  • Convert the image to black and white using Image → Mode → Indexed and select 1-bit (black and white).
  • Export the file via File → Export As and select XBM as the output format.

Online converters

There are very few online converters that support ART files directly. If you have already converted your ART file to PNG or BMP, you can use online tools like Convertio or Online-Convert to convert to XBM.

Summary

To convert ART to XBM, use IrfanView to open and save the ART file as PNG or BMP, then use GIMP to convert and export it as XBM. This two-step process ensures compatibility and preserves as much image quality as possible, given the limitations of the formats.