PI1 File Extension

What is PI1 file?

Files with the PI1 extension store images in bitmap form at low resolution, used by the Degas software. This format is specific to Atari systems and is not commonly used today. However, some programs for viewing or editing graphics on PC or MAC may still provide the ability to display and convert them.

Specification of the PI1 Image Format

Bitmap resolution saved in a PI1 file is fixed, at 320 by 200 pixels. The format supports only 16 colors. The DEGAS software, Design & Entertainment Graphic Arts System, saved miniature equivalents in files with the PI1 extension. Apart from it, in the DEGAS series of programs, you could use formats such as:

• PI2 - medium resolution image,
• PI3 - high resolution image,
• PI4 - raster image,
• PC1 - compressed low-resolution image,
• PC2 - compressed medium-resolution image,
• PC3 - compressed high-resolution image.

PI1 files were introduced to save disk space when saving images.

How to Open PI1 Files Without Atari Degas?

To be able to open PI1 files on a PC or Mac computer, you need to have appropriate software or a file converter that supports the Degas Low Resolution Image File format. There is no need to work on Atari Degas. Programs such as XNView support many graphic file formats, including PI1. They also allow, thanks to the “save as” option, to convert the file to a different format.

Programs which support PI1 file extension

The following list contains programs grouped by 2 operating systems that support PI1 files. Files with PI1 suffix can be copied to any mobile device or system platform, but it may not be possible to open them properly on target system.

Updated: 03/05/2024

How to open file with PI1 extension?

Problems with accessing PI1 may be due to various reasons. On the bright side, the most encountered issues pertaining to Degas Low Resolution Image Format files aren’t complex. In most cases they can be addressed swiftly and effectively without assistance from a specialist. We have prepared a listing of which will help you resolve your problems with PI1 files.

Step 1. Install XnView software

The main and most frequent cause precluding users form opening PI1 files is that no program that can handle PI1 files is installed on user’s system. This issue can be addressed by downloading and installing XnView or different compatible program, such as GraphicConverter. Above you will find a complete listing of programs that support PI1 files, classified according to system platforms for which they are available. If you want to download XnView installer in the most secured manner, we suggest you visit Pierre-Emmanuel Gougelet website and download from their official repositories.

Step 2. Update XnView to the latest version

If you already have XnView installed on your systems and PI1 files are still not opened properly, check if you have the latest version of the software. Software developers may implement support for more modern file formats in updated versions of their products. This can be one of the causes why PI1 files are not compatible with XnView. The most recent version of XnView is backward compatible and can handle file formats supported by older versions of the software.

Step 3. Associate Degas Low Resolution Image Format files with XnView

If the issue has not been solved in the previous step, you should associate PI1 files with latest version of XnView you have installed on your device. The method is quite simple and varies little across operating systems.

The procedure to change the default program in Windows

• Right-click the PI1 file and choose Open with option
• Click Choose another app and then select More apps option
• Finally select Look for another app on this PC, point to the folder where XnView is installed, check the Always use this app to open PI1 files box and conform your selection by clicking OK button

The procedure to change the default program in Mac OS

• Right-click the PI1 file and select Information
• Find the Open with option – click the title if its hidden
• Select the appropriate software and save your settings by clicking Change all
• A message window should appear informing that This change will be applied to all files with PI1 extension. By clicking Continue you confirm your selection.

Step 4. Ensure that the PI1 file is complete and free of errors

Should the problem still occur after following steps 1-3, check if the PI1 file is valid. It is probable that the file is corrupted and thus cannot be accessed.

1. Verify that the PI1 in question is not infected with a computer virus

If the file is infected, the malware that resides in the PI1 file hinders attempts to open it. Scan the PI1 file as well as your computer for malware or viruses. PI1 file is infected with malware? Follow the steps suggested by your antivirus software.

2. Ensure the file with PI1 extension is complete and error-free

Did you receive the PI1 file in question from a different person? Ask him/her to send it one more time. The file might have been copied erroneously and the data lost integrity, which precludes from accessing the file. It could happen the the download process of file with PI1 extension was interrupted and the file data is defective. Download the file again from the same source.

3. Verify whether your account has administrative rights

There is a possibility that the file in question can only be accessed by users with sufficient system privileges. Log out of your current account and log in to an account with sufficient access privileges. Then open the Degas Low Resolution Image Format file.

4. Check whether your system can handle XnView

If the systems has insufficient resources to open PI1 files, try closing all currently running applications and try again.

5. Check if you have the latest updates to the operating system and drivers

Latest versions of programs and drivers may help you solve problems with Degas Low Resolution Image Format files and ensure security of your device and operating system. Outdated drivers or software may have caused the inability to use a peripheral device needed to handle PI1 files.

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