PKM Format Hub - Online PKM Converter & ETC1 Texture Viewer
Comprehensive online PKM format resources crafted for the Android ecosystem. Use an easy PKM Converter (PNG/JPG to PKM) and a detailed PKM viewer for robust ETC1 compressed files.
About PKM Format
PKM (Ericsson Texture Compression) is a simple, efficient container format designed specifically for ETC1 compressed textures. It has become a standard format in mobile game development, particularly on Android platforms.
Lightweight Structure
Minimal file header overhead, optimized for fast loading and parsing on mobile devices.
ETC1 Compression
Uses ETC1 compression providing 6:1 compression ratio for RGB textures with hardware decoding support.
Wide Hardware Support
Supported by all OpenGL ES 2.0+ devices, ensuring compatibility across Android ecosystem.
Simple Format
Straightforward specification makes it easy to implement custom readers and writers.
Technical Specifications
File Structure
- •16-byte header containing magic number, version, format type, and dimensions
- •Raw ETC1 compressed texture data following the header
- •Optional mipmap chain stored sequentially
Compression Details
- Type:
- ETC1 (Ericsson Texture Compression 1)
- Block Size:
- 4×4 pixels per block
- Ratio:
- 6:1 compression ratio (4 bits per pixel)
- Quality:
- Optimized for natural images and diffuse textures
Limitations
- ETC1 does not support alpha channel (RGB only)
- Optimal performance with square, power-of-two textures
- May show artifacts on textures with sharp color transitions
Common Use Cases
Mobile Game Development
Primary texture format for Android games requiring hardware-accelerated decompression and efficient memory usage.
Diffuse Textures
Ideal for diffuse maps, environment textures, and UI elements without transparency.
Legacy Android Support
Essential for games targeting older Android devices with OpenGL ES 2.0.
Asset Pipeline Integration
Widely supported by game engines and texture compression tools for automated workflows.
PKM vs Other Formats
KTX offers more flexibility with multiple compression formats but has larger overhead
ASTC provides better quality and alpha support but requires newer hardware (OpenGL ES 3.0+)
PVR is optimized for PowerVR GPUs but has limited support on non-PowerVR devices
PNG is lossless but much larger file size and requires CPU decompression
Related Tools & Resources
Encode to PKM
Convert images to PKM format with ETC1 compression
Decode PKM Files
View and extract textures from PKM files
External Tools
- →ARM Mali Texture Compression Tool
- →Imagination PVRTexTool
- →Android SDK etc1tool utility