What is the ICO file format used for?

ICO files contain Windows icons with multiple image resolutions and color depths used for application icons, website favicons, and UI elements.

Why convert ICO to TGA format?

Converting ICO to TGA extracts individual icon images into a bitmap format that supports per-pixel alpha and lossless compression suitable for editing and real-time rendering.

Does converting ICO to TGA preserve transparency?

When the ICO contains true alpha data, the conversion preserves per-pixel transparency in the TGA file, but transparency from 1-bit masks may appear different.

Convert ICO to TGA Online - Easy Image Converter

Convert your ICO image files to TGA format quickly and easily online. Preserve alpha transparency and obtain editor-friendly bitmaps for gaming, design, or development workflows.

Upload Your File | Maximum Size Upto 25MB

Quick Access To 13 ICO File Conversion Pairs

What Is This Tool?

This tool helps you convert ICO files, which are Windows icon containers, into TGA images. The conversion extracts individual icon images from ICO files into a simple, bitmap format commonly used for game textures, image editing, and real-time rendering.

How to Use This Tool?

Upload your ICO file containing one or more icon images
Select TGA as the output format for conversion
Choose the specific icon size or PNG-compressed image from the ICO if options are available
Start the conversion process and wait for the TGA file to be generated
Download the resulting TGA file for editing or use in game engines and design apps

Key Features

Convert ICO icons containing multiple image sizes to standalone TGA bitmaps
Preserve per-pixel alpha transparency when available during conversion
Supports uncompressed and RLE lossless-compressed TGA files
Extract and convert PNG-compressed ICO entries for high-quality output
Simple, browser-based interface with fast and predictable conversion

Examples

Extract the 256×256 icon from an ICO and convert it to a 32-bit TGA to edit alpha transparency in Photoshop
Convert multiple ICO sizes into separate TGA files for use as textures in a game development pipeline
Save the largest PNG-compressed ICO entry as a lossless TGA for compositing or further image workflow steps

Common Use Cases

Preparing application or website icons as standalone TGA bitmaps for detailed editing
Converting ICO icons to TGA textures for real-time rendering in game engines
Exporting ICO icons for use in image editing software like Photoshop or GIMP
Creating sprite sheets or asset files from ICO icon entries for design and development

Tips & Best Practices

Choose the largest available icon resolution in the ICO for best quality when converting
Be aware that ICO transparency may differ from TGA alpha; check the output for visual changes
Use TGA files in workflows that require simple, lossless compression and native alpha support
Avoid enlarging small ICO images after conversion to prevent quality loss
Test the converted TGA files in your intended applications to ensure compatibility

Limitations

ICO files typically contain small images (up to 256×256), which may restrict export quality
ICO transparency can use 1-bit masks or inconsistent alpha, which might alter appearance in TGA
Some PNG-compressed ICO entries may not convert perfectly due to varied tool support
TGA files produced are usually larger than PNG and lack advanced metadata or color profiles
TGA format does not support modern compression or progressive image loading features

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the ICO file format used for?: ICO files contain Windows icons with multiple image resolutions and color depths used for application icons, website favicons, and UI elements.
Why convert ICO to TGA format?: Converting ICO to TGA extracts individual icon images into a bitmap format that supports per-pixel alpha and lossless compression suitable for editing and real-time rendering.
Does converting ICO to TGA preserve transparency?: When the ICO contains true alpha data, the conversion preserves per-pixel transparency in the TGA file, but transparency from 1-bit masks may appear different.

Key Terminology

ICO: A Windows icon file format containing multiple small bitmap or PNG images for various icon sizes and color depths.
TGA: Raster image format supporting uncompressed or RLE-compressed bitmaps with native per-pixel alpha, used for game textures and editing.
Per-pixel alpha: Transparency information stored individually for each pixel, enabling smooth and detailed translucency effects.

Quick Knowledge Check

What is a primary use of ICO files?

Storing photographs

Windows application and website icons

Editing high-resolution artwork

What advantage does TGA format provide over ICO?

Supports multiple resolutions in one file

Native per-pixel alpha support and simple compression

Advanced metadata and color profiles

What is a limitation when converting ICO to TGA?

ICO images are typically large and lose detail

TGA files have limited metadata and larger size

TGA does not support transparency