Device Independent Bitmap (DIB) File Format

The Device Independent Bitmap (DIB) format represents bitmap images in a device-independent manner. Bitmaps can be represented at 1, 4, and 8 bits per pixel, with a palette containing colors represented in 24 bits. Bitmaps can also be represented at 24 bits per pixel without a palette and in a run-length encoded format. This documentation describes three types of DIB files:

Windows version 3.0 device-independent bitmap files

OS/2 Presentation Manager version 1.2 device-independent bitmap files

RIFF device-independent bitmap files

The Windows 3.0 and Presentation Manager 1.2 DIBs are similar, so they are discussed together.