Why is TGA still used in game development?

Reliable alpha channels, simple lossless compression, and decades of engine and pipeline support. Newer projects increasingly use PNG or engine-specific compressed formats instead.

Will it display in the browser?

No, it downloads. Host a PNG version if the image needs to be viewable.

TGA or PNG for textures?

PNG for most purposes — same lossless quality with alpha, much smaller files. TGA when a pipeline or engine specifically expects it.

Host a TGA file and share it as a link

Put a Targa image online at its own address — the format game development and 3D rendering still use for textures.

You can host:

Drop your TGA file here

Any other file works too — up to 25.0 MB, or 100.0 MB for a whole site

Free to use. Your TGA file is live at your-name.99helpers.site in about ten seconds.

What is a .tga file?

TGA (Targa) dates from 1984 and survives because of one property: simple, reliable alpha channel support with optional lossless compression. Game engines and 3D renderers have used it for textures for decades, long after it disappeared from general use.

What people use TGA files for

Game textures with alpha channels
3D rendering output and texture maps
Frame sequences from rendering software
Assets in older game engines

What opens a TGA file

Photoshop, GIMP and Affinity Photo
Unity, Unreal and most game engines
Blender, Maya and 3ds Max
No browser displays TGA

How to host a TGA file

1
Drop your TGA file in
Drag it onto the box at the top of this page, or click to choose it. Files up to 25 MB are supported, and nothing is uploaded until you publish.
2
Pick an address
Type a name and we'll tell you straight away whether it's free. That becomes the link: texture.99helpers.site
3
Publish and share
Create a free account — that step exists so the file is yours to update, replace or delete — and the link is live within seconds.

The same three steps work for any file — see how file hosting works on 99helpers.com.

What happens when someone opens the link

The file downloads — browsers don't support TGA. Recipients open it in an image editor or import it into their engine.

Why host a TGA file instead of emailing it?

Texture assets move between artists and developers constantly, and TGA files are large enough that email gets awkward. A link handles delivery without a shared drive.

Worth knowing before you publish

PNG offers the same lossless alpha support at a fraction of the size for most textures.
TGA's RLE compression is optional — uncompressed files are considerably larger.
Host a PNG preview so people can see the texture without an editor.

TGA hosting questions

Why is TGA still used in game development?: Reliable alpha channels, simple lossless compression, and decades of engine and pipeline support. Newer projects increasingly use PNG or engine-specific compressed formats instead.
Will it display in the browser?: No, it downloads. Host a PNG version if the image needs to be viewable.
TGA or PNG for textures?: PNG for most purposes — same lossless quality with alpha, much smaller files. TGA when a pipeline or engine specifically expects it.

Put your TGA file online now

It takes about ten seconds, and you only make an account once the file is ready to go live.

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Hosting guides for related formats

Host a PNG image Host a DDS texture file Host a Photoshop file (PSD)Host a TIFF image Host an OpenEXR image

TGA is one of over 211 formats you can host — see free file hosting for any file type for the full list, or read the hosting guides for other file types.