What is the VEC file format?
A .vec file stores a 2D two-component velocity vector field produced by DaVis, the scientific imaging and flow analysis software suite from LaVision GmbH. It is the primary output of Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) processing - the technique that cross-correlates pairs of particle-seeded flow images to compute instantaneous fluid velocity maps.
Each .vec file holds the U and V velocity components on a regular 2D grid, together with metadata such as spatial scale, physical units (e.g. m/s or px/frame), and frame index. The binary format is proprietary to LaVision and has evolved across DaVis versions 4 through 11, though all versions maintain read compatibility.
The companion format .vc7 extends the concept to three-component stereo or volumetric (Tomo-PIV) data, while .im7 stores the raw particle images that precede vector calculation. DaVis 11 (2024) is the current release and reads all legacy .vec files.
Outside DaVis, the PIVMat toolbox for MATLAB provides the loadvec function, which reads both .vec and .vc7 files for custom post-processing, statistics, and visualization workflows.
- Typical applications include aerodynamics, hydrodynamics, combustion research, and biofluid mechanics.
- Grid spacing, interrogation window size, and overlap parameters are stored in file metadata.
- No publicly documented magic bytes exist for this format.
Security & safety
RISK: LOWVEC files are passive binary scientific data files with no executable content. No known security risks.
Format details
in a nutshell- Vectra vector graphics (legacy) - Some older Vectra/HP vector graphics applications used .vec for simple 2D vector drawing data, unrelated to LaVision.
Programs that open VEC files
Windows2 apps
DaVis (LaVision)
Paid Open DaVis, navigate to the file browser, double-click the VEC file to display the vector field.
PIVMat Toolbox for MATLAB
Free In MATLAB: F = loadvec('file.vec'); showvec(F); - reads and plots the vector field. 
Linux1 app
Technical details
deep spec| Format type | Binary scientific 2D vector-field data |
| Developer | LaVision GmbH (DaVis software suite) |
| Byte order | Little-endian |
| Encoding | Binary (proprietary LaVision DaVis container) |
| Magic bytes | None publicly documented |
| Typical file size | 10 KB - 50 MB (depends on vector grid dimensions) |
| Data components | 2D two-component velocity (U, V) on a regular Cartesian grid |
| Metadata stored | Spatial scale, physical units, frame index, interrogation window parameters |
| Internal versioning | Evolves across DaVis 4 through 11; not publicly specified |
| Associated OS | Windows (DaVis GUI); Linux (DaVis worker/server nodes) |
| Companion formats | .vc7 (3-component stereo/volumetric), .im7 (raw particle images) |
| Third-party access | PIVMat MATLAB toolbox via loadvec function |
| Released | late 1990s (DaVis 4.x era) |
| Latest version | DaVis 11 (2024) |
| Specification | www.lavision.de |
VEC conversions
Community Q&A
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