CE3 File

What are CE3 files and how to open them

Are you having problems opening a CE3 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 CE3 files.

What is a CE3 file?

A .CE3 file is a ComputerEyes Raw Data Format Bitmap file.

ComputerEyes Raw Data Format Bitmap is a proprietary image format produced by the ComputerEyes video acquisition system for the Atari. It stores captured still images from analog video sources, converting them into digital bitmaps at various resolutions. The system is useful when acquiring high-contrast or grey-scale video imagery via the specialized hardware and the CE.PRG software that comes with ComputerEyes. CE.PRG must be used in conjunction with its hardware to generate these raw data bitmaps, which are then often post-processed or viewed via compatible programs. The format supports low, medium and high resolution options, each working with a different image capture mode and data organization.

At capture, the image is thresholded and sampled column-by-column over successive video frames so that a full resolution image builds up over several seconds. For high-resolution mode, which is what this particular variant handles, each pixel is sampled once per frame and stored as a single byte, representing a composite greyscale value derived from 6-bit red, green, and blue components summed together (without dividing by three). The dimensions for high resolution are 640 pixels wide by 400 pixels tall. Brightness, contrast, and per-channel color adjustments (red, green, blue) are stored in the file header to allow those settings to be reapplied or interpreted correctly.

Files begin with a fixed identification code: the ASCII string EYES followed by a short integer indicating the resolution level (2 for high resolution among 0=low, 1=medium, 2=high). Subsequent header fields include words for brightness, contrast, red, green, and blue adjustment values (each in the range 0-191), then three additional words of presently unidentified purpose. The pixel data for high resolution follows immediately and consists of exactly 256000 image bytes (one per pixel) after the header, giving a total file size of 256022 bytes.

How to open CE3 files

Important: Different programs may use files with the CE3 file extension for different purposes, so unless you are sure which format your CE3 file is, you may need to try a few different programs.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

Last updated: August 31, 2026

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