TGA file format: what it is and how to use it

TGA is the Targa image format: uncompressed (or RLE) pixels that became the texture workhorse of a generation of game development. Learn when to use it and what to choose instead.

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What is a TGA file?

A .tga file is an image in the Truevision Targa format, a 1984 design for graphics cards: an 18-byte header then raw (or lightly RLE-compressed) pixels in 8/16/24/32-bit with optional alpha. Simple, predictable, fast to write, which is why two generations of game engines, 3D tools and video capture pipelines adopted it for textures.

When should you use TGA?

  • Game textures: the classic uncompressed texture format of many engines.
  • Capture and pipeline intermediates: video and render outputs that need raw pixels fast.
  • Alpha-channel work: one of the first formats to make 32-bit RGBA commonplace.

When is another format a better fit?

For storage and delivery, PNG compresses the same lossless data far smaller. For GPU-ready shipping, DDS/KTX2 add the compression the hardware wants. TGA is a working format, not a distribution one.

The short version: TGA is the game industry's raw texture: simple, fast and huge. Convert to PNG for anything outside the pipeline.

How to open a TGA file

On Windows

Double-click the file, or open it with Paint.NET.

On macOS

GIMP opens TGA files on macOS.

In your browser

Open TGA files right in a browser tab or with the dexrr viewer. No install, no upload.

Also opens in

  • GIMP
  • Adobe Photoshop
  • Paint.NET
  • XnView

View or convert TGA files

A quick preview or a new format. No install, no upload.

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TGA technical details

Full name
Truevision TGA / TARGA
Extensions
.tga .icb .vda .vst
MIME type
image/x-tga, image/x-targa
Compression
Lossless or lossy
Developer
Truevision (Avid)
Specification
paulbourke.net

TGA questions, answered

How do I open a .tga file?

Photoshop, GIMP, game engines and most image tools open it; OS viewers are hit-and-miss. dexrr displays and converts tga files directly in your browser.

Can I convert TGA files online?

Yes, dexrr converts tga locally in your browser: TGA to PNG for normal use or TGA to JPG for opaque images.

Is TGA better than PNG?

For writing speed in a pipeline, it can be, since the format is trivial. For storage or sharing, PNG compresses the same pixels to a fraction of the size.

Why is my TGA flipped vertically?

The header stores origin orientation, and some writers emit bottom-up rows. Check the flag; most tools handle it, but cheap converters get it wrong.

Is the TGA format outdated?

It is old but stable, still common in game pipelines where simplicity and raw speed matter more than compression.