B16 File

What are B16 files and how to open them

Are you having problems opening a B16 file or are you simply curious about its contents? We're here to explain the properties of these files and provide you with software that can open or handle your B16 files.

What is a B16 file?

A .B16 file is a PCO Bitmap file.

PCO Bitmap files hold raw 16-bit images created by PCO AG's CamWare and related scientific/industrial imaging software. They store data straight from PCO cameras without compression, preserving full sensor range (often 12-bit sensor data placed into 16-bit pixels) so that later image analysis and adjustment retain maximum fidelity.

These files are produced when saving or exporting images within CamWare or similar PCO tools ("Save" or "Save RAW File" operations support *.b16) and are usually used for further processing or quantitative analysis rather than final presentation. They may be opened later by software that supports high bit-depth raw image data.

File structure begins with a small header that either has a "basic" form of six 32-bit integer parameters or an "extended" form with up to 32 integer parameters. After optional ASCII comments, the image data follows in linear order scanline by scanline. Color mode, width, height, LUT (look-up table) settings for minimum and maximum, and whether linear or logarithmic scaling are among the metadata stored.

Files of this type start with the ASCII characters "PCO-" at offset zero.

How to open B16 files

Important: Different programs may use files with the B16 file extension for different purposes, so unless you are sure which format your B16 file is, you may need to try a few different programs.

While we have not verified the app ourselves yet, our users have suggested a single B16 opener which you will find listed below.

Last updated: August 22, 2026

Various apps that use files with this extension

These apps are known to open certain types of B16 files. Remember, different programs may use B16 files for different purposes, so you may need to try out a few of them to be able to open your specific file.

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File.org helps thousands of users every day, and we would love to hear from you if you have additional information about B16 file formats, example files, or compatible programs. Please use the links below or email us at submit@file.org to discuss further.