What is a TGA file?
TGA stands for Truevision TGA image. It was created by Truevision and first released in 1984. TGA, also called Targa, stores pixels uncompressed or with simple run-length compression, plus an alpha channel. Its simplicity is why game engines and 3D tools still use it for textures decades after it was created.
| Type | image |
|---|---|
| Compression | Lossless |
| Colour | up to 32-bit colour with an 8-bit alpha channel |
| Transparency | Yes |
| Animation | No |
| In a browser | does not open in browsers; Photoshop, GIMP and game engines read it |
| Common uses | game textures, 3D rendering and video effects work |
| MIME type | image/x-tga |
Which format should you convert TGA to?
- TGA to JPG for photos that must open everywhere and stay small.
- TGA to PNG for screenshots, logos and anything with transparency.
- TGA to PDF to print, or to attach as a document.
TGA is lossless, so converting it to a lossy format is where the file gets much smaller.
How to open a TGA file
A TGA file does not open in a web browser, and only some devices have a program for it. Here is what works on each. If none of these is to hand, converting the file to PNG here is the quickest way to see what is inside it.
| Windows | Photoshop, GIMP and Paint.NET (both free) open TGA; IrfanView (free) views it. |
|---|---|
| Mac | Photoshop, GIMP and Pixelmator open TGA; Preview shows most TGA files. |
| iPhone and iPad | The Files app cannot show TGA. Convert it to PNG or JPG here to view it. |
| Android | Most gallery apps cannot show TGA. Convert it to PNG or JPG here to view it. |
Want the technical details? See what a .tga file is, with its MIME type, file signature and a viewer.
TGA compared with other image formats
How TGA stacks up against the formats people most often convert it to or from:
| Format | Compression | Transparency | Released | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TGA | Lossless | Yes | 1984 | game textures, 3D rendering and video effects work |
| JPG | Lossy | No | 1992 | camera photos, web images and email attachments |
| PNG | Lossless | Yes | 1996 | screenshots, logos, diagrams and anything with transparency |
| WebP | Either | Yes | 2010 | images served by websites to save bandwidth |
| HEIC | Lossy | Yes | 2017 | photos taken on iPhones and iPads since iOS 11 |
How to use the TGA converter
- Choose the format you want in the Convert to menu.
- Drop your TGA files on the box, or press Choose TGA files. Several files can go in at once.
- Adjust the settings if you need to; the defaults suit most people.
- Press Convert and save each file with its Download button. Converting to DDS, PS uses our server, which deletes the file right after; the rest never leave your device.
Tips for converting TGA files without losing quality
TGA is lossless, so it is a good source for any conversion. Converting it to a lossy format is where the file gets much smaller, and converting it to another lossless format keeps every pixel.
- Choose by content: photos belong in JPG or WebP, while screenshots, logos and anything with transparency belong in PNG or WebP.
- Resize before you send. A modern phone photo is far wider than any screen, and scaling it to 1920 pixels removes most of the file size.
- Keep originals. Re-saving a JPG again and again slowly degrades it; convert from the original each time.
- Converting through the browser removes EXIF metadata such as GPS location, which is useful when sharing photos publicly.
Convert TGA files from the command line
Everything this page does can also be done in a terminal. The most common TGA conversion, to BMP, looks like this with ImageMagick:
magick input.tga output.bmpChange the output extension to pick another format. The converter above runs the same kind of conversion inside your browser, so you get the result without installing anything.
TGA converter FAQ
What is a TGA file?
TGA stands for Truevision TGA image, an image format created by Truevision in 1984. TGA, also called Targa, stores pixels uncompressed or with simple run-length compression, plus an alpha channel. Its simplicity is why game engines and 3D tools still use it for textures decades after it was created.
How do I open a TGA file?
TGA does not open in browsers; Photoshop, GIMP and game engines read it. If the program you need will not open it, convert it to a more widely supported format above.
What is the most common TGA conversion?
TGA to BMP is the conversion people search for most. The image is decoded and written as a 24-bit uncompressed bitmap.
Does converting TGA files here upload them?
Only for some conversions. Converting to DDS, PS uses our conversion server, where the file is deleted as soon as the result is sent back; the other conversions run inside your browser and never leave your device.
Is the TGA converter free?
Yes. There is no sign-up and no watermark. Conversions that use our server accept files up to 25 MB, with a fair-use limit per hour. The site is supported by advertising.
Can I convert TGA files on iPhone or Android?
Yes. Open this page in Safari on iPhone and iPad, or in Chrome on Android, choose your TGA files and download the results to your Downloads folder.
Can I convert several TGA files at once?
Yes. Drop as many as you like; they are converted one after another, each with its own download button.