Opening a PAL File

The PAL file type is primarily associated with Paint.

PAL	File extension: PAL
	File type:	color palette

What is a PAL file?

PAL files mostly belong to Paint by Microsoft. PAL files contain the color palette of raster images used by various programs. A palette usually comprises a color lookup table used to reference a range of color in a given color space of an image. Rather than describing every color in a color space, each color is assigned an index (reference), thereby reducing the amount of data required to reproduce that color space when the image is rendered. These palettes are typically stored as text files or RIFF containers. Some image processing programs that store color palettes in PAL files include PaintShop, Paint, and Painter. PhotoAnim, a photo animation software for Windows, stores 3D objects (e.g. people) in library files that have PAL filename extension. PAL files are also used to store ROM dumps of Nintendo 64 games released for Europe and Australia. Rise of Nations, a real-time strategy video game saves campaign media data in PAL files.

How to open PAL files

You need a suitable software like Paint to open a PAL file. Without proper software you will receive a Windows message "How do you want to open this file?" or "Windows cannot open this file" or a similar Mac/iPhone/Android alert. If you cannot open your PAL file correctly, try to right-click or long-press the file. Then click "Open with" and choose an application. You can also display a PAL file directly in the browser:. Just drag the file onto this browser window and drop it.

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Programs that open and convert PAL files:

Paint by Microsoft
See the previous paragraphs to learn more about the main application. PAL files are often referred to as Paint raster images because this type of file is primarily created or used by this software.
Command & Conquer (color palette) by Electronic Arts
Command & Conquer is a real-time strategy video game in which players are grouped into factions that embark on parallel campaigns, build a base, and acquire resources that will help them capture their opponent's base. The color palette of some image files in Command & Conquer have PAL filename extension. This file format is classified as Raster Image.
Dr. Halo (color palette) by Media Cybernetics
Dr. Halo is a discontinued graphics design software for DOS operating system. It was used to create simple black and white or color drawings. Images created with Dr. Halo were stored in CUT files while the 256-color palette used by these images was stored in PAL files. This file format is classified as Raster Image.
Harvard Graphics (palette) by Serif
Harvard Graphics was a presentation software for classic DOS and Windows platforms. It was used to create and present rich text, graphs, slideshows, and charts. Harvard Graphics saved its color palette in PAL files. This program has been discontinued. This file format is classified as Raster Image.
Lotus Freelance Graphics (color palette) by IBM
Lotus Freelance Graphics is a discontinued information graphics program for creating slides used in demos, lectures, or presentations. Its color palettes were stored in PAL files. This file format is classified as Raster Image.
OnyxPALM (palm tree model) by Onyx
OnyxPALM is a procedural 3D design and modeling software used to create and animate 3D palm tree images. Palm tree models generated with the Palm generator component can be saved as a custom library in a PAL file. This file format is classified as 3D Image.
PageMaker (library palette) by Adobe
PageMaker was a graphics design and desktop publishing software for creating and printing flyers, posters, calendars, book covers etc. Its library palette file had PAL filename extension. This program has been discontinued. This file format is classified as Raster Image.
Painter (custom palette) by Corel
Painter is a graphics editor for creating photorealistic paintings on Windows and Mac operating systems. Custom palettes created with Painter are saved in PAL files. This file format is classified as Settings.
PDP-10 (cross-compiled source code) by DEC
PDP-10, short for Programmed Data Processor model 10 was a mainframe computer that has been discontinued. The PDP-10 was eventually eclipsed by the VAX supermini machines. Assembly programming language compiler source code that is cross-compiled from PDP-8 computers to PDP-10 computers were stored in PAL files. This file format is classified as Developer.
Perceptive Process (process model) by Hyland
Perceptive Process (formerly BPM/One and BPM/Protos before that) is a business process management software suite for modeling and handling case-driven business processes. The process model file created by BPM/Protos, an earlier iteration of Perceptive Process had PAL filename extension. This format isn't supported by Perceptive Process. This file format is classified as Data.
Personal Ancestral File (personal ancestory data backup) by FamilySearch
Personal Ancestral File (PAF) is a discontinued genealogy data management software for adding one's genealogy to a database. It also allowed users to lookup their ancestry charts, print family records, and search for relatives. A backup of the personal ancestry file (PAF) is saved in the PAL file. This file format is classified as Data.
Rise of Nations (campaign media data) by Microsoft
Rise of Nations is a real-time strategy video game in which players must develop, protect, and expand their territories. The campaign media data files used by Rise of Nations have PAL filename extension. This file format is classified as Game.
ZX Spectrum-Emulator (data) by World of Spectrum
ZX Spectrum-Emulator was a color spectrum emulator for Atari operating system. The color palette used by this program was stored in a PAL file. ZX Spectrum-Emulator has been discontinued. This file format is classified as Data.

PAL file format details:

Each file has a definite file format, that is, how the stored data is arranged in the file. The file format can be determined based on the file extension and the signature (the first few characters of a file). File extension, signature and file format must match; otherwise errors will occur when the file is opened. So a detailed analysis of a file is vital in order to determine the format and the associated program. Our analysis of the PAL files produces the following result:

The PAL extension is quite commonly used. The file itself covers different formats for different programs. The file formats most commonly found in PAL files are:

20% of all PAL files are RIFF Palette files, which are using the popular RIFF file format. RIFF files store data in tagged chunks. There are primarily used to store multimedia such as sound and video. They consist of unreadable binary data. The files are 88 bytes to 1 KB in size, with a median of 1 KB. The file type was created 20 years ago but is still used today. The following keywords are characteristic: PAL data and RIFF. A common filename is palette.pal. Such PAL files store data about blue, lite and rlcn.
15% of all PAL files are associated with JASC format Palette. The content consists of readable text data, which can be read using a text editor. The files are 180 bytes to 2 KB in size, with a median of 770 bytes. The files contain the following words: JASC-PAL. A usual file name is hypnopal.pal or normal.pal. Such files are related to playercolor.

All other PAL files (65%) have no consistent format, the following 5 formats can be found: Dr. Halo Palette and RGB. Sometimes used for color, classic, nespalette, realitya, rainbow, tileset, paleta, repeat, black, title, fire or temp. If you want to find out what your PAL file contains, drag and drop it onto this page.

Technical Data for PAL File Extension

File classification:

Raster Image

Related files:

tekken5 [pal] patched, dwx, jpg, dun, img, zip, ztd, jpeg, txt, vga, tex, nri, mor, png, mpg, rar, sdl, pla, act, spk, glb

Mime type:

application/octet-stream, text/plain

The following listing is compiled from the database produced by the 'Associate This!' program, selected data from the main FILExt database and file extension information submitted by users.

ProgramID: palfile, FileType: Palette File

ProgramID: FLW3Presentation
EXEFile: c:\lotus\flg\f32main.exe %1

ProgramID: PJ64
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Project64 v1.5\Project64 v 1.5.exe %1

ProgramID: PJ64
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Project64\Project64.exe %1

ProgramID: SmartPixImage
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Smart Pix Manager\SmartPix.exe %1

ProgramID: Canvas.X.Color
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\ACD Systems\Canvas X\canvasX.exe

ProgramID: ParadigmPALDocument
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\MM ParadigmPAL\ParadigmPAL.exe%1

Show all 7 listings To Top

a pal color palette is a special file format by Microsoft and should only be edited and saved with the appropriate software.

How to solve problems with PAL files

Associate the PAL file extension with the correct application.
Update your software that should actually open color palettes. Because only the current version supports the latest PAL file format. Search, therefore, e.g. on the Microsoft manufacturer website after an available Paint update.
To make sure that your PAL file is not corrupted or virus-infected, get the file again and scan it with Google's virustotal.com.
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