Convert KAP to GIF
Convert KAP to GIF online: the whole nautical chart raster decoded edge to edge, saved as a GIF image. 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 GIF output options, then start the conversion.
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Download GIF files
Once conversion finishes, download your files individually or as a compressed ZIP archive.
Why convert KAP to GIF?
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.
GIF stores the image with an optimised palette of up to 256 colours, which suits text, diagrams and flat colour.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I convert KAP to GIF?
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 a GIF image, ready to download.
Which part of a KAP chart appears in the GIF?
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 GIF?
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 GIF.
How big is the GIF image from a KAP file?
The chart is rendered at its full native resolution, keeping every pixel of the scanned chart.
How are colours handled in the KAP to GIF image?
GIF uses a palette of up to 256 colours. The converter builds an optimised palette from the rendered image, which keeps text, lines and solid colours clean.
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.