HEIC/HEIF Converter

v1.2

Effortless HEIC/HEIF Image Conversion

A command-line tool for converting HEIC/HEIF image files to other common image formats (JPEG, PNG, BMP, TIFF, WebP). The converter includes embedded HEIC/HEIF codecs, eliminating the need for system-wide codec installation.

View on GitHub Download Quick Start Guide

Overview Features Installation Usage Documentation

Overview

HEIC/HEIF Converter is a lightweight, efficient tool for converting Apple's HEIC/HEIF image format to more widely compatible formats like JPEG and PNG. Perfect for users transitioning between ecosystems or needing to share images across platforms.

Author: R Square Innovation Software
Version: v1.2
License: GPLv3 (See LICENSE file)

Why Choose HEIC/HEIF Converter?

🔧Embedded Codecs

No need to install system-wide codecs. Everything you need is included in the application.

⚡Fast Processing

Multi-threaded conversion for batch processing with minimal resource usage.

🔄Cross-Platform

Separate builds for Debian 9 and Debian 12/13 with full compatibility.

Features

📁Embedded Codecs

HEIC/HEIF codecs included if the system does not have them installed.

🖼️Multiple Output Formats

Convert to JPEG, PNG, BMP, TIFF, or WebP with adjustable quality settings.

📦Batch Processing

Convert entire directories of images with recursive directory processing.

⚡Parallel Processing

Multi-threaded conversion for improved performance on modern hardware.

🏷️Preserve Metadata

Option to keep or strip EXIF data and color profiles from images.

💻Cross-Platform

Separate optimized builds for Debian 9 and Debian 12/13 systems.

Supported Formats

Input Formats

.heic, .HEIC
.heif, .HEIF

Output Formats

.jpg, .jpeg
.png
.bmp
.tiff, .tif
.webp

Installation

System Requirements

Debian 9 (Stretch)

GCC 6.3 or higher
CMake 3.7 or higher
Standard C++17 development libraries

Debian 12/13 (Bookworm/Trixie)

GCC 11 or higher
CMake 3.18 or higher
Standard C++17 development libraries

Dependencies

# Update system and install all dependencies
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install -y \
    build-essential \
    cmake \
    pkg-config \
    git \
    g++ \
    make \
    libheif-dev \
    libpng-dev \
    libjpeg-dev \
    libwebp-dev \
    libtiff-dev \
    libheif1 \
    libpng16-16 \
    libjpeg-turbo8 \
    libwebp7 \
    libwebpdemux2 \
    libwebpmux3 \
    libtiff6 \
    exiftool

Build Instructions

For Debian 12/13 Systems

# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/R2Innovation/heic_converter
cd heic_converter_v1.0

# Run build script for Debian 12/13
./scripts/build_debian12.sh

# The executable will be in build/debian12/bin/

For Debian 9 Systems

# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/R2Innovation/heic_converter
cd heic_converter_v1.0

# Run build script for Debian 9
./scripts/build_debian9.sh
# The executable will be in build/debian9/bin/

Manual Build (CMake)

mkdir -p build && cd build
cmake -DDEBIAN9_BUILD=ON .. # For Debian 9

# or
cmake -DDEBIAN12_BUILD=ON .. # For Debian 12/13
make -j$(nproc)
sudo make install # Optional

Usage Guide

Basic Syntax

heic_converter [options] <input> [output]

Command Examples

Convert a single file:

heic_converter image.heic
heic_converter image.heic image.jpg
heic_converter -f png image.heic

Convert with quality adjustment:

heic_converter -q 90 image.heic
heic_converter -c 9 image.heic # PNG compression

Batch conversion:

heic_converter -r ./photos ./converted
heic_converter -t 8 -r ./input_dir ./output_dir

Overwrite existing files:

heic_converter -o image.heic image.jpg

Verbose output:

heic_converter -v image.heic

Command Line Options

Option	Description	Default
`-f, --format FORMAT`	Output format (jpg, png, bmp, tiff, webp)	jpg
`-q, --quality N`	JPEG quality (1-100)	85
`-c, --compression N`	PNG compression level (0-9)	6
`-t, --threads N`	Threads for batch processing	4
`-r, --recursive`	Process directories recursively	false
`-o, --overwrite`	Overwrite existing files	false
`-v, --verbose`	Enable verbose output	false
`--no-metadata`	Strip metadata from output	false
`-h, --help`	Show help message	-
`--version`	Show version information	-

Performance Tips:
• Use parallel processing for batch conversions: -t 8
• Adjust quality settings for smaller file sizes
• Disable metadata if not needed: --no-metadata
• Use appropriate format for your use case

Documentation

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

"Cannot open file" error:

Check file permissions
Ensure the file is not corrupted

"Unsupported format" error:

Verify the file has a .heic or .heif extension
Try a different HEIC/HEIF file

Memory issues with large files:

Reduce thread count: -t 2
Ensure sufficient system memory

Error Codes

Code	Description
0	Success
1	Invalid arguments
2	Unsupported format
3	File not found
4	Read permission error
5	Write permission error
6	Decoding failed
7	Encoding failed
8	Memory allocation error
9	Codec initialization error
10	Batch processing error
255	Unknown error

Project Structure

heic_converter_v1.0/
├── data/                    # Embedded codecs
│   ├── debian9/            # Codecs for Debian 9
│   └── debian12/           # Codecs for Debian 12/13
├── scripts/                # Build scripts
├── include/                # Header files
├── src/                    # Source files
└── tests/                  # Test suite

License

Software is licensed under GPLv3. See the LICENSE file for detailed licensing information.

Support

For issues, questions, or feature requests:

Check the troubleshooting section
Review existing issues on GitHub
Submit a new issue with detailed information

Download Options

🐧

Debian 12/13

Optimized for Bookworm/Trixie

Download

📦

Debian 9

Compatible with Stretch

Download

📚

Source Code

Build from source

View Source