Free TGA test files and sample generator
An uncompressed 24-bit Targa image, still common in games and 3D texturing. Generate valid .tga sample files for viewers, engines and converters.
What is a .tga file?
TGA: Truevision Targa Image. Targa is an uncompressed image format still common in games and 3D texturing, where simple loading matters more than file size. Its header is minimal and its pixel order is bottom-up BGR.
Why generate a test TGA file?
- Test a game-asset or texture-loading pipeline.
- Check BGR channel-order handling in your own loader.
- Verify large uncompressed images move through a build step.
What you can put inside a .tga file
You get 3 content options for TGA, so the file holds something meaningful rather than random padding: Solid color, Gradient, Checkerboard. For TGA these are alternatives, so choose the one that matches what you need to test.
How a .tga file is identified
A .tga file has no signature at the start. Targa has no signature at the start; it is identified by its 18-byte header and, in later versions, a footer at the end of the file.
How the size lands on the exact byte
Padding trails after the pixel data. Readers use the dimensions in the header, so they never look at it.
Negative testing with broken TGA files
- Invalid. Identifiable, but wrong inside, so it fails during parsing.
- Corrupted. The leading bytes are destroyed. Same length as the valid file.
- Incomplete. Truncated part-way, so it is genuinely shorter.
- Empty. Chosen under Content rather than File Condition: valid structure, no data.
Which failure to reach for, and what to assert for each, is covered in how to make a corrupted file for testing. For upload limits and type checks see testing file upload validation.
Sample TGA content
[TGA], 18-byte header (type 2, 24-bit) + uncompressed BGR pixels.
This shows the shape of the file. Your download is generated fresh at the size you choose, so the values will differ.
How to open and verify the file
Open in IrfanView, GIMP, Paint.NET, or a game engine's asset importer.
Media type image/x-tga · extension .tga · category Images
Generate a .tga file → · questions about sizes, privacy or cost are answered on the site FAQ.
Frequently asked questions about TGA files
What identifies a .tga file?
Nothing at the start of the file does. Targa has no signature at the start; it is identified by its 18-byte header and, in later versions, a footer at the end of the file.
How can a .tga file be an exact number of bytes?
Padding trails after the pixel data. Readers use the dimensions in the header, so they never look at it.
What can go inside the TGA file?
There are 3 content options for .tga: Solid color, Gradient, Checkerboard. For TGA these are alternatives, so pick the one matching what you need to test.
Can I download several broken TGA files at once?
Yes, select more than one File Condition and you get one ZIP containing a .tga per condition, each named after its condition.
Can the TGA file use UTF-16 or a byte-order mark?
No, and deliberately. A .tga file is a container rather than plain text, so rewriting its bytes as UTF-16 would not produce a UTF-16 document. It would produce a broken file. Use a text format such as CSV, JSON or XML for encoding tests.
How do I open or verify the TGA file?
Open in IrfanView, GIMP, Paint.NET, or a game engine's asset importer.