How Do I Convert Oddball Graphic Files into a More Common File Format?

Question: How Do I Convert Oddball Graphic Files into a More Common File Format?

I have some (fill in the blank) graphics that I would love to be able to use again, but I am unable to find any program that will open them. Is there any way to convert them to a more common format?

I am often asked how to convert some very obscure or proprietary graphics files into more widely used formats like JPEG, TIFF, or BMP. Here are my best suggestions for this situation as well as a reminder to future-proof your files so this doesn't happen to you.

Answer: If you have access to the software that was used to create the images, your first step should be to open the images there and look for a "Save as" or "Export" command. If your software does not offer an appropriate Save or Export option, you might want to try FinePrint, a universal print preview replacement that can save documents and print jobs to the standard graphics formats TIFF, JPEG, and BMP.

If you no longer have access to the original software, I suggest trying to open them in XnView or IrfanView. These are both free image viewers that support a large number of formats. If one of these programs will open your files, you can then use the "Save As" command to convert them one at a time, or use the software's batch conversion features. If these programs will not open them, it is possible they are not really graphics files. However, you may want to browse through my directory of specialized image conversion software or see this list of image converters from About.com PC Support Guide Tim Fisher.

As a last resort, if you can still run the program that created them, you can open the files in that program, scale them to as large as you can fit on screen, and take a screen shot. If all else fails, post in the discussion forum and our members may be able to help you.

Remember that technology is always changing, and while there is no way to anticipate changes that will cause a file format to fall into obscurity, it's up to you to future-proof your computer's data. Every few years, take stock of your files and convert what is important to the common format of the day. It's also important to do this any time you make a major system upgrade or switch to a new operating system. There is always a chance your old programs won't work on a new system, and you can save yourself some frustration if you catch it right away—when you still have access to the old system—instead of when it's too late.