PALM File – What is .palm file and how to open it?
PALM File Extension
Palm OS Bitmap Image – file format by Palm
PALM is a graphics file format designed for the Palm OS operating system. It supports a limited color palette and is used to display images on Palm devices’ small monochrome screens. The format is no longer commonly used due to the discontinuation of Palm OS devices.
Definition of PALM File
A PALM file, with the file extension .PALM, stands for Palm OS Bitmap Image. It is a raster-based image format originally designed for use on Palm OS devices, a mobile operating system prevalent in the late 1990s and early 2000s. PALM files store bitmap images, which consist of a grid of individual pixels, each represented by a single color value.
Characteristics and Usage of PALM Files
PALM files are characterized by their relatively small file sizes, making them suitable for use on devices with limited storage capacity. The format supports a limited color palette of 8 or 16 bits, resulting in images with a reduced range of colors compared to more modern formats. PALM images typically have a square aspect ratio of 1:1 and a resolution of 32 x 32, 64 x 64, or 128 x 128 pixels. They were commonly employed for display on Palm OS devices, including wallpapers, app icons, and basic graphics. However, with the decline of Palm OS, the PALM file format has become less common in recent years.
Opening a PALM File on a Mobile Device
On a Palm OS device, PALM files can be opened using the built-in Picture Viewer application. Simply navigate to the file’s location using the File Manager, select it, and choose “View” from the options menu. The image will display in the Picture Viewer. Additionally, third-party image viewing applications may also support opening PALM files on Palm OS devices.
Opening a PALM File on a Computer
On a Windows or macOS computer, users can open PALM files using various image editing software. Adobe Photoshop, PaintShop Pro, and GIMP are just a few examples of programs that support the PALM file format. To open the file, launch the image editor and use the “File” menu to select “Open.” Navigate to the PALM file and click “Open” to display the image in the editor. Some operating systems may also have built-in photo viewers or utilities that can open PALM files. However, it’s recommended to use a dedicated image editor for optimal viewing and editing capabilities.
Definition and Characteristics
The PALM file extension denotes a Palm OS Bitmap Image, which is a raster image format associated with the Palm OS operating system. This format was primarily used for displaying images on Palm handheld devices, such as the Palm Pilot and later models. PALM images are characterized by 16-bit color depth, with each pixel represented by two bytes. The images typically have a rectangular shape and can be compressed using a proprietary lossless compression algorithm.
Technical Details and Usage
Technically, PALM files consist of a header followed by the image data. The header contains information about the image’s width, height, color depth, and compression status. The image data is stored in a scanline-based format, with each scanline containing the pixel data for one row of the image. The PALM format supports transparent pixels, which are represented by a special color value in the image’s palette. This transparency feature allowed for the creation of semi-transparent images and overlay effects. While the PALM file format was primarily used on Palm OS devices, it could also be viewed on desktop computers using third-party software or online converters.