Basis Universal Converter and Viewer

PNG/JPG to .basis, ETC1S/UASTC, and browser preview

Encode images into Basis Universal, pick ETC1S for smaller files or UASTC for higher quality, and open .basis textures without installing a desktop tool.

Convert PNG/JPG to BasisOpen Basis Viewer

About Basis Universal

Basis Universal is an open-source texture compression system developed by Binomial LLC. It provides a universal intermediate texture format that can be transcoded at runtime to any GPU-compressed format, enabling a single compressed texture file to work across all platforms and devices.

Universal Transcoding

Single file works on all platforms - transcodes to ETC1, BC1-7, PVRTC, ASTC, and more

Highly Compressed

Smaller file sizes than traditional formats with fast runtime transcoding

Quality Modes

Choose between ETC1S (high compression) and UASTC (high quality) modes

Technical Specifications

File Structure

Basis Universal files (.basis) contain:

  • File header with format version and image metadata
  • Compressed texture data (ETC1S or UASTC)
  • Optional mipmap levels and texture array slices

Compression Modes

Two main compression modes are available:

  • ETC1S: High compression ratio, suitable for most textures
  • UASTC: Higher quality, better for normal maps and detail textures

Limitations

  • Maximum texture size depends on target platform
  • ETC1S mode may show artifacts on high-contrast textures
  • Requires WebAssembly support for in-browser transcoding

Common Use Cases

WebGL Applications

Ideal for web-based 3D applications, games, and visualizations requiring cross-platform texture support

Game Development

Simplify asset pipelines by using a single texture format for all platforms

Mobile Applications

Reduce download sizes and support diverse mobile GPU architectures

VR/AR Content

Optimize texture delivery for virtual and augmented reality experiences

Format Comparison

FeatureBasis UniversalKTX2DDS
Universal Platform Support✓ Excellent○ Good✗ Limited
Compression RatioHighMediumMedium
Visual QualityGoodExcellentExcellent
Typical File SizeSmallMediumLarge

Available Tools

Basis Encoder

Convert PNG, JPG, or WebP images to .basis or KTX2 with ETC1S/UASTC settings

Basis Viewer

Open .basis files, preview decoded textures, inspect channels, and export images

Related Basis searches

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Basis Universal Tools - Convert PNG/JPG to Basis Online | Texture Compression Online