What is the PPF file format?
A .ppf file is a proprietary raster image document created by Micrografx Picture Publisher, a Windows bitmap editor that competed with Adobe Photoshop through the 1990s. The format stores pixel image data along with layers, masks, and editing metadata, preserving the full editable state of a Picture Publisher composition.
Micrografx introduced the format around 1991. Versions 1 through 5 used a proprietary binary layout, while versions 6 through 10 switched to a Microsoft OLE2 Compound File Binary (CFBF) container - the same container used by .doc, .xls, and .ppt files. Late-era .ppf files therefore share the magic bytes D0 CF 11 E0 A1 B1 1A E1 at offset 0 with Office documents; they are distinguished internally by an OLE stream named Contents.
Corel Corporation acquired Micrografx in 2001 and discontinued Picture Publisher in favor of Corel Photo-Paint (.cpt files). The .ppf format is not supported by 64-bit versions of CorelDRAW or Photo-Paint - it can only be opened in legacy 32-bit compatibility mode. IrfanView provides basic read-only access.
For long-term preservation, .ppf images should be exported to TIFF or PSD while access to compatible software still exists, as active support continues to diminish.
Security & safety
RISK: LOWPPF is a legacy raster image format; no known security issues. The OLE2 container is the same used by old Office documents - treat with normal caution if received from unknown sources.
Format details
in a nutshell- PlayStation Patch File - PPF is widely used in the retro gaming scene as a binary patch format for PlayStation/PSX ISO images and ROM files; unrelated to Micrografx.
- DAISY Protected Package File - Some DAISY talking book formats use .ppf for package metadata; niche accessibility use.
Programs that open PPF files
Windows2 apps
IrfanView
Free File > Open - IrfanView may open some PPF files with the additional plugins pack installed. 
CorelDRAW Graphics Suite (32-bit)
Paid Open via File > Open; only works in the 32-bit version of CorelDRAW. 64-bit version does not support .ppf. Technical details
deep spec| Container (v6-10) | Microsoft OLE2 Compound File Binary Format (CFBF); magic bytes D0 CF 11 E0 A1 B1 1A E1 at offset 0 |
| Container (v1-5) | Proprietary non-OLE binary raster layout; no public specification |
| Distinguishing OLE stream | Internal stream named `Contents` within the OLE compound file identifies the file as `.ppf` rather than a Word or Excel document |
| Byte order | Little-endian (Windows OLE2 convention) |
| Color depth | 1 bpp - 32 bpp; supports RGB, CMYK, and Grayscale color modes |
| Compression | Variable within OLE container; may be uncompressed or RLE-encoded depending on version |
| Layer support | Stores image layers, masks, and per-layer editing metadata (versions 6-10) |
| Typical size | 500 KB - 50 MB (depending on image dimensions, color depth, and layer count) |
| Platform | Windows only; no macOS or Linux native support |
| 64-bit support | Not supported by 64-bit CorelDRAW or Corel Photo-Paint; requires 32-bit compatibility mode |
| Current support | Limited to legacy 32-bit CorelDRAW suite and IrfanView (basic read-only) |
| Developer history | Micrografx, Inc. (original developer, circa 1991); acquired by Corel Corporation in 2001; product line discontinued |
| Successor format | Corel Photo-Paint's `.cpt` format replaced `.ppf` after the Corel acquisition |
| Encryption | None documented |
| Released | circa 1991 (Picture Publisher for Windows) |
| Latest version | Picture Publisher 10 (last version, early 2000s) |
PPF conversions
Community Q&A
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