XCF to HEVC

How to Convert XCF to HEVC Online

1. Upload Your XCF Files: Click "+ Add Files" or drag and drop one or more GIMP project files. Flatten layered projects in GIMP first (Image → Flatten Image, then re-save the .xcf) — a multi-layer XCF is read as a multi-page image and a single layer is encoded, not the merged canvas. Batch is supported — assemble an entire portfolio in one pass.
2. Pick a Merge Strategy: Choose "Merge images" to combine every XCF into a single HEVC slideshow, or "Video per image" to render one HEVC clip per file. Pair with "Image Duration" (1/60 second up to 10 seconds per frame) and a "Background Color" to fill any letterbox area when the canvas does not match the target aspect ratio.
3. Tune Compression (Optional): Under File Compression, default is "Quality Preset" set to "Very High (Recommended)". Switch to "Constant Quality" and lower CRF (around 22-24 for visually transparent, 28 for streaming-grade), set "Target file size (%)" for proportional shrink, "Specific file size" for a hard megabyte cap, or pick "Constant Bitrate" / "Variable Bitrate" / "Constraint Quality" when you need predictable bandwidth.
4. Set Resolution and Convert: Under Video Resolution, keep original, choose a "Preset Resolutions" preset (e.g. 1080p, 1440p, 2160p, 4320p), enter "Width x Height", or use width/height with aspect-ratio lock. Click "Convert" — files process on our servers with no sign-up and no watermark.

Why Convert XCF to HEVC?

XCF is GIMP's native project format ("eXperimental Computing Facility"), introduced in 1997, that preserves layers, masks, channels, paths, guides, and selections. It is excellent for editing inside GIMP but is not a delivery format — almost no media player or social platform reads XCF. HEVC (H.265, formally ISO/IEC 23008-2 / ITU-T H.265) is a video codec ratified in January 2013 that delivers roughly twice the compression of H.264 at the same visual quality, supports up to 8192 by 4320 (8K UHD), and natively encodes 10-bit color for HDR.

• Apple-first delivery — iPhone 7 and newer, iPad (6th gen) and newer, and macOS High Sierra 10.13+ play HEVC natively without extra codecs (Apple Support). Sending HEVC to friends and family on iPhone is the path of least friction.
• 4K and 8K artwork reels — HEVC supports resolutions up to 8192x4320, so a slideshow of high-resolution GIMP exports stays sharp at 4K (3840x2160) or 4320p without bloating the file.
• HDR and 10-bit color — HEVC's Main 10 profile preserves 10-bit color depth, useful when your XCF was authored in a wide-gamut workflow and you want to keep gradients smooth.
• Storage and backup — A 1080p slideshow that is 200 MB in H.264 typically lands near 100-120 MB in HEVC at the same perceived quality, making cloud-archive of design portfolios cheaper.
• Streaming on metered connections — Lower bitrate at the same quality means smoother playback on cellular and slow Wi-Fi when sharing a design walkthrough.
• Modern smart-TV playback — Most smart TVs from 2017 onward, plus Apple TV 4K and recent Roku/Fire TV models, decode HEVC in hardware for a power-efficient living-room demo.

XCF vs HEVC — Format Comparison

HEVC vs H.264 — Codec Quick Guide

CRF Cheat Sheet (Constant Quality)

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my GIMP layers be preserved in the HEVC video?

No — and note that the stack is not composited for you either. HEVC stores a sequence of flat frames, not editable layers, and a multi-layer XCF is read as a multi-page image, so a single layer becomes the frame rather than the composite GIMP shows on canvas. The other layers' artwork is missing, and the regions they covered arrive transparent — HEVC's mainstream profiles carry no alpha channel, so those areas fall back to the Background Color you set. Flatten in GIMP before uploading (Image → Flatten Image, then re-save the .xcf) and the frame matches your canvas exactly; a single-layer XCF is fine as-is. Keep the original XCF if you need to edit later.

Why is my HEVC file so much smaller than an H.264 version of the same slideshow?

HEVC's coding tools — larger Coding Tree Units up to 64x64, 35 intra-prediction modes, parallel decoding, and improved motion compensation — let it represent the same visual data with fewer bits. For static or slow-changing content like image slideshows, savings often exceed the typical 40-50% rule of thumb because long stretches of frames are nearly identical.

Should I pick HEVC or stay with H.264 (MP4)?

If your audience is on iPhone, Apple Silicon Macs, or recent smart TVs, HEVC is fine and saves roughly half the bytes at the same quality. If you need to share with Windows users on older builds (HEVC requires the HEVC Video Extensions on Windows 10/11) or post to a platform that re-encodes anyway, H.264 in XCF to MP4 is the safer default. HEVC for delivery, H.264 for universal compatibility.

What CRF value should I use?

CRF 22-24 is visually transparent for most viewers — slightly higher quality than streaming defaults. CRF 26-28 produces noticeably smaller files with quality good enough for streaming and social. CRF 18-20 is for archival or color-critical work and produces large files. Going above 30 starts to show blocking and banding, especially on gradients common in GIMP artwork.

What "Image Duration" should I pick for an art portfolio slideshow?

Three to five seconds per image is the sweet spot for a static portfolio piece — long enough for the viewer to read titles and study composition, short enough to keep momentum. For type-heavy slides (process explanations), bump to 7-10 seconds. The duration setting controls per-frame display time before transitioning to the next XCF.

Why does my slideshow have white bars on the sides?

Your XCF aspect ratio does not match the target video resolution (typically 16:9). The "Background Color" option lets you pick the fill — white is the default; black is often the least distracting. If you want a borderless look, either match the XCF canvas to 16:9 inside GIMP before exporting or pick a custom Width x Height that matches your XCF's native aspect ratio.

Will my HEVC video play on Windows 10/11?

Yes, but Windows 10 and 11 do not ship with an HEVC decoder by default. Users must install the HEVC Video Extensions from the Microsoft Store (paid for the consumer extension, free if a hardware vendor preinstalled the OEM version). VLC and most third-party players bundle their own HEVC decoder and play the file without the system extension.

Can I batch-convert dozens of XCF files into one continuous video?

Yes. Drag in the entire batch, set "Merge strategy" to "Merge images", set "Image Duration" globally, and the tool concatenates them in upload order into a single HEVC file. For separate per-XCF videos, switch to "Video per image" and download the resulting set as a ZIP. See also XCF to MP4, XCF to MOV, and XCF to WebM for alternative output codecs from the same workflow.

Does the encoder support 10-bit HDR output?

The pipeline targets HEVC Main / Main 10 profile output. If your source XCF was authored in 8-bit (the GIMP default for most users) the result is 8-bit regardless of profile. To preserve true HDR you need 10-bit or higher source data and a viewing chain (display, OS, and player) that all honor HDR metadata.