GIMP Image Format
image/x-xcf
Released 1995
· by Spencer Kimball, Peter Mattis, and the GIMP Development Team
The image/x-xcf MIME type represents the native project file format used by GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program). Standing originally for 'Experimental Computing Facility' (and later re-purposed as 'GIMP Color Format'), XCF is a comprehensive layered image format. Unlike flattened delivery formats such as JPEG or PNG, an XCF file preserves the complete editing state of a project—including individual layers, channels, transparency masks, paths, text data, and active selection boundaries. Because it is GIMP's internal working format, it is tightly coupled with GIMP's rendering engine and is rarely used outside of direct photo editing pipelines or asset creation workflows.
Technical Specifications
.xcf
NoneRLEZlib
image/xcfapplication/x-xcf
Magic Bytes & HTTP Headers
gimp xcf
Browser Support Matrix
| Browser | Status | Min Version |
|---|---|---|
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Not Supported | — |
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Not Supported | — |
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Not Supported | — |
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Not Supported | — |
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Not Supported | Legacy |
Advantages & Limitations
- Preserves all non-destructive editing elements, layer hierarchies, masks, and alpha channels across GIMP sessions
- Open and thoroughly documented specification within the open-source community, allowing third-party tools like Krita and ImageMagick to read project files
- Reliable magic byte header prevents misidentification
- Massive file sizes because raw, unflattened layer bitmaps and masks are stored directly within the project archive
- Completely proprietary to the GIMP ecosystem for deep editing; cannot be natively rendered or parsed by web browsers
- Third-party software supporting XCF may occasionally struggle to render complex text layer adjustments or advanced layer blend modes identically to GIMP
Developer Code Snippets
File Detection Steps
How to programmatically detect a image/x-xcf
file by reading its raw bytes:
- 1 Every valid GIMP XCF file begins with a distinct human-readable magic signature at byte offset 0.
- 2 Check the first 9-14 bytes for the ASCII string 'gimp xcf' followed by the version string (e.g., 'gimp xcf v001' or 'gimp xcf v002', Hex: 67 69 6D 70 20 78 63 66 ...).
- 3 This predictable file signature makes programmatic identification of XCF files exceptionally reliable.
Software Support
ImageMagick
Conversion Tools
Share & Embed
[](https://freewebptojpg.com/mime/image/xcf)
<iframe src="https://freewebptojpg.com/mime/image/xcf/embed" width="100%" height="280" style="border:1px solid #cbd5e1;border-radius:8px;" title="XCF Specs"></iframe>
JSON API
All data on this page is available as a free, open JSON API. Use it in your project, documentation, or tooling.
GET https://freewebptojpg.com/mime/image/xcf.json
Open JSON
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an XCF file?
An XCF file is the native project file format created by GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program). It stores all editing data for an image, including layers, transparency masks, channels, and paths, allowing you to resume editing later.
Can I open an XCF file in a web browser?
No. Modern web browsers do not natively support XCF files. To display an XCF file on the web, you must open it in GIMP or a compatible image editor and export it to a web-friendly format like PNG, JPEG, or WebP.
What is the difference between an XCF file and a PSD file?
They serve the exact same purpose for different applications. XCF is the native layered project format for GIMP, whereas PSD (Photoshop Document) is the native layered project format for Adobe Photoshop.