CDT to PBM Converter

Turn CorelDRAW CDT files into PBM pictures for free

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Private Process

CDT to PBM conversion makes your CorelDRAW template accessible to anyone — no proprietary software needed to view the result.

No Software Needed

Runs entirely in the browser. No plugins, no downloads — just open Convertio and start converting.

Batch Conversion

Upload multiple CDT files and convert them all at once. Batch processing saves time on repetitive tasks.

How to convert CDT to PBM

1

Select files from Computer, Google Drive, Dropbox, URL or by dragging it on the page.

2

Choose pbm or any other format you need as a result (more than 200 formats supported)

3

Let the file convert and you can download your pbm file right afterwards

About formats

CDT (CorelDRAW Template) is a template file format used by CorelDRAW, Corel Corporation's vector graphics editor available since January 1989. A CDT file is structurally identical to a standard CDR document — sharing the same RIFF-based container, vector object types, color definitions, and page layout capabilities — but is designated as a reusable starting point for new designs rather than a finished artwork file. When opened in CorelDRAW, a CDT creates a new untitled document pre-populated with the template's content, leaving the original template unchanged for repeated use. This workflow mirrors the template model found in office productivity suites, adapted for graphic design. CDT files commonly contain pre-built layouts for business cards, brochures, letterheads, certificates, posters, and other standardized print materials, complete with placeholder text, guide lines, bleed areas, and properly configured color spaces for print output. One advantage is workflow consistency — design teams can distribute branded templates ensuring every new document starts with correct dimensions, margins, fonts, and color palettes aligned to corporate identity standards. The format also saves significant setup time: rather than configuring document properties and recreating layout elements from scratch, designers begin with a production-ready foundation. Corel ships hundreds of CDT templates with CorelDRAW installations, and the format is supported across CorelDRAW versions with the same compatibility considerations as CDR.
Developer: Corel Corporation
Initial release: 1989
PBM (Portable Bitmap) is the monochrome (black and white, 1-bit) member of the Netpbm family of image formats, created by Jef Poskanzer in 1988 as part of the Pbmplus toolkit for Unix systems. The format exists in two variants: ASCII (magic number P1), where each pixel is represented as a text character '0' (white) or '1' (black) separated by whitespace, and binary (magic number P4), where pixels are packed eight per byte for compact storage. Both variants begin with a plain-text header specifying the magic number, image width and height, and optional comments. PBM was designed as the simplest possible image format — a bridge format for converting between the many incompatible raster formats that proliferated across different Unix systems and applications during the 1980s. The Netpbm philosophy was to convert any source format to PBM/PGM/PPM as an intermediate step, then convert to the target format, using the portable formats as a universal exchange layer. One advantage is extreme simplicity — the ASCII variant can be literally typed by hand in a text editor, and both variants are trivial to parse and generate in any programming language without external libraries. The format's role as a universal image processing intermediate is another strength: hundreds of Netpbm command-line tools accept PBM input, enabling complex image manipulation pipelines through Unix pipes. PBM remains used in computer science education, OCR preprocessing, and any context where a dead-simple monochrome image representation is needed.
Developer: Jef Poskanzer
Initial release: 1988

Frequently Asked Questions

Why convert CDT to PBM?

Converting CDT to PBM gives you a shareable image from a CorelDRAW-only template — no proprietary viewer needed.

What programs open PBM files?

PBM files open in GIMP, IrfanView, ImageMagick viewers, and various Unix/Linux image tools.

How does Convertio handle my uploaded files?

CDT uploads are removed right after processing completes. Converted downloads are auto-deleted within 24 hours.

Does it work on mobile devices?

It does. Open Convertio on your smartphone or tablet browser and convert CDT files just like on a desktop.

Will my design look different after conversion?

The output stays true to the original CDT template. Minor differences may occur due to format capability differences.

Can I convert multiple CDT files at once?

You can. Add several CDT templates to the converter and they will all be processed to PBM simultaneously.