BmpToRaw (or bmp2raw) refers broadly to a category of lightweight command-line utility tools, scripts, and software functions designed to convert standard Windows Bitmap (.bmp) images into pure, uncompressed raw pixel data files (.raw or .dat).
Because the structure of an uncompressed BMP file is remarkably straightforward, developers often write their own custom version of this utility to prepare graphics for specialized hardware. 🛠️ What BmpToRaw Does
A standard BMP file is “self-describing.” It contains a 54-byte metadata header that details the image’s width, height, bit depth, and color order, followed by the pixel array.
A BmpToRaw tool strips away this header and any color palettes. It extracts only the flat binary buffer of raw pixel bytes.
Input: A .bmp image file (carrying width, height, and metadata headers).
Output: A raw binary stream containing strictly sequential pixel color values (e.g., RGB, RGBA, or BGR) with no header, no compression, and no metadata. 💡 Why Developers Use It
Raw files are highly impractical for consumer use because standard image viewers cannot open them without knowing the dimensions beforehand. However, they are vital in several technical environments: Importing a bitmap heightmap. – Unity Discussions
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