Convert KAP to BMP
Convert KAP to BMP online: the whole nautical chart raster decoded edge to edge, saved as an uncompressed BMP bitmap. Free, no sign-up.
Drop your KAP files here
Up to 50MB per file.
Conversion Settings
Files are encrypted and auto-deleted after conversion
How to Convert
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Upload your KAP files
Drag and drop or select KAP files from your device. You can upload multiple files at once.
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Configure Output
Choose any available BMP output options, then start the conversion.
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Download BMP files
Once conversion finishes, download your files individually or as a compressed ZIP archive.
Why convert KAP to BMP?
KAP is the BSB raster nautical chart format used by hydrographic offices and marine navigation software, holding a scanned chart image with its geographic calibration. The complete chart raster stored in the file is decoded by GDAL at its stored resolution, with its colour palette applied so the chart keeps its original colours.
BMP stores every pixel uncompressed, so the image is exact and simple to read by any software that handles Windows bitmaps.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I convert KAP to BMP?
Drop your KAP file above and press Convert. Our servers read the chart with GDAL's BSB driver, expand its colour palette into a lossless PNG, then encode it in the format you chose. The result is saved as an uncompressed BMP bitmap, ready to download.
Which part of a KAP chart appears in the BMP?
The complete chart raster stored in the file, from edge to edge, at the resolution it was scanned at.
What reads the BSB data in a KAP file for the BMP?
GDAL's BSB driver, part of the open-source geospatial library used widely in mapping software. It reads the chart raster and its colour table, and the full-colour chart becomes the BMP.
How big is the BMP image from a KAP file?
The chart is rendered at its full native resolution, keeping every pixel of the scanned chart.
What kind of BMP does the KAP converter create?
A standard Windows bitmap with every pixel stored uncompressed, so the image is an exact copy of the rendered result.
Is my .kap file kept private?
Your file is uploaded over an encrypted connection, converted on our servers and deleted automatically within 24 hours. We never read, share or keep your files, and no account is needed.