Convert BLP to QOI

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BLP vs QOI Format Comparison

Aspect BLP (Source Format) QOI (Target Format)
Format Overview
BLP
Blizzard Texture

A proprietary texture format developed by Blizzard Entertainment for their game engines. BLP (Blizzard Picture) stores compressed texture data using DXT/S3TC or palette-based encoding with optional mipmaps. Used extensively in World of Warcraft, Warcraft III, and StarCraft II for game assets.

Lossless Standard
QOI
Quite OK Image

Fast lossless image format with simple compression algorithm.

Lossless Modern
Technical Specifications
Color Depth: 32-bit RGBA (DXT1/3/5 or palette)
Compression: DXT/S3TC or JPEG-based
Transparency: Yes (DXT3/DXT5 alpha)
Animation: No
Extensions: .blp
Color Depth: 24/32-bit
Compression: QOI (lossless)
Transparency: Yes (RGBA)
Animation: No
Extensions: .qoi
Image Features
  • DXT1/3/5: GPU compression
  • Palette-based: encoding (256 colors)
  • Built-in: mipmap chains
  • JPEG-based: compression mode
  • Alpha: channel support
  • Optimized: for Blizzard game engines
  • QOI QOI (lossless) encoding
  • 24/32-bit color depth
  • Extension: .qoi
  • Transparency: Yes (RGBA)
  • Animation: No
  • Quite OK Image format
Processing & Tools

BLP processing:

# Read BLP with Pillow
from PIL import Image
img = Image.open("texture.blp")
print(img.size, img.mode)

QOI creation:

# Convert to QOI
img.save("output.qoi", "QOI")
Advantages
  • Native format for Blizzard games — no conversion needed in-engine
  • Compact file size with DXT compression
  • Pre-generated mipmaps for rendering performance
  • Direct GPU loading in supported engines
  • Standard format for WoW/WC3 modding
  • Two compression modes (DXT and palette) for flexibility
  • QOI Quite OK Image quality
  • QOI (lossless) compression
  • Wide tool support
  • Established ecosystem
  • Cross-platform compatibility
Disadvantages
  • Proprietary — limited tool support outside game modding
  • Not viewable in standard image viewers or browsers
  • Limited to Blizzard game engine ecosystem
  • DXT compression introduces quality loss
  • No HDR or wide-gamut support
  • Format-specific limitations
  • May not suit all use cases
  • Compression tradeoffs
  • Feature constraints
  • Ecosystem dependencies
Common Uses
  • World of Warcraft textures and UI elements
  • Warcraft III custom maps and mods
  • StarCraft II game assets
  • Blizzard game modding community
  • Game texture distribution
  • QOI native applications
  • Standard workflows
  • Cross-platform sharing
  • Web and print
  • General image tasks
Best For
  • Blizzard game texture creation
  • WoW addon and mod development
  • Warcraft III map modding
  • Game asset pipelines for Blizzard titles
  • Batch texture conversion for game mods
  • QOI native workflows
  • Standard editing
  • Cross-platform compatibility
  • Web publishing
  • General distribution
Version History
Introduced: 2004 (Blizzard Entertainment)
Current Version: BLP2 (WoW TBC+)
Status: Active (Blizzard games)
Evolution: BLP0 (WC3, 2002) → BLP1 (WoW Classic, 2004) → BLP2 (WoW TBC+, 2007)
Introduced: Quite OK Image
Status: Active
Software Support
Image Editors: BLP Lab, BLPConverter, GIMP (with plugin), Photoshop (with plugin)
Web Browsers: No browser support
OS Preview: Windows (with tools), limited on macOS/Linux
Mobile: No
CLI Tools: BLPConverter, Pillow, ImageMagick (limited)
Image Editors: Various
Web Browsers: Varies
OS Preview: Cross-platform
Mobile: Varies
CLI Tools: Pillow, ImageMagick

Why Convert BLP to QOI?

Converting BLP to QOI extracts Blizzard game textures into a standard image format accessible by all image editors and applications. Fast lossless image format with simple compression algorithm.

Game modders, texture artists, and WoW addon developers frequently need to convert BLP textures to QOI for editing, sharing, or publishing. The conversion decodes Blizzard's proprietary texture compression into universal QOI format.

Our converter handles both BLP1 (World of Warcraft Classic) and BLP2 (modern WoW) formats automatically, extracting the full-resolution base texture with correct color data and alpha channels where applicable.

For game modding workflows, QOI provides broad compatibility with standard tools. If you need transparency preservation, PNG or WebP are recommended. For smaller file sizes with photos, JPG or AVIF offer better compression.

Key Benefits of Converting BLP to QOI:

  • Universal Access: Open QOI in any image editor or viewer
  • Texture Extraction: Export game assets for editing and modification
  • Modding Workflow: Edit textures in standard tools, then re-import
  • QOI Quality: QOI (lossless) compression for optimal results
  • Alpha Preservation: Transparency data maintained where supported
  • Batch Processing: Convert multiple BLP textures at once
  • Free & Online: No software installation required

Practical Examples

Example 1: Extracting WoW Textures for Editing

Scenario: A WoW modder extracts BLP textures for editing in Photoshop.

Source: character_armor.blp (512 KB, BLP2 DXT5)
Conversion: BLP → QOI (1024x1024)
Result: character_armor.qoi (varies by format)

✓ Full texture data extracted
✓ Alpha channel preserved
✓ Ready for editing in any tool
✓ Standard format output

Example 2: Creating Texture Reference Sheets

Scenario: A game artist creates reference documentation from BLP assets.

Source: ui_icons_pack.blp (256 KB, BLP2 palette)
Conversion: BLP → QOI (512x512)
Result: ui_icons_pack.qoi

✓ Color-accurate extraction
✓ Suitable for documentation
✓ Universal compatibility
✓ Easy to share and view

Example 3: Batch Texture Export

Scenario: A modding team exports a set of BLP textures for their project.

Source: terrain_grass.blp (1 MB, BLP2 DXT1)
Conversion: BLP → QOI (2048x2048)
Result: terrain_grass.qoi

✓ High-resolution output
✓ Consistent quality across batch
✓ Compatible with all editors
✓ Efficient workflow

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Is BLP to QOI conversion lossless?

A: The conversion extracts the full-resolution base texture from BLP. If the BLP used DXT compression, some quality was already lost during BLP creation. The extraction to QOI preserves all available data.

Q: Does QOI preserve BLP alpha channels?

A: Yes, QOI fully supports alpha transparency.

Q: What BLP versions are supported?

A: Our converter handles BLP1 (World of Warcraft Classic, Warcraft III) and BLP2 (modern WoW) formats automatically.

Q: Can I convert animated BLP textures?

A: BLP files are static textures. Animation in Blizzard games is handled by the engine, not the texture format.

Q: What resolution will the output be?

A: The output matches the base (largest) mipmap level of the BLP texture. Smaller mipmap levels are not extracted.

Q: Why is the QOI file larger than BLP?

A: BLP uses GPU-optimized DXT compression designed for compact storage. QOI may use different compression that results in larger files but broader compatibility.

Q: Can I batch convert multiple BLP files?

A: Yes, upload multiple BLP files and they will all be converted automatically.

Q: Should I use QOI or PNG for texture editing?

A: PNG is generally recommended for lossless editing. QOI is a good choice when you need the same lossless quality.