What images does this pull out of a NetCDF file?

Any complete PNG or JPEG stored inside the file. That includes byte variables that hold raw image data and base64-encoded thumbnails carried in file attributes (a common convention in satellite and weather products).

What if my NetCDF file has no images in it?

You get an empty result. This page only copies out images that are actually embedded in the file; it never renders or invents one.

How big a file can I upload?

Up to 40 MB, with up to 16 extracted images, 8 MB each and 24 MB in total.

Are the extracted images scanned for malware?

Treat downloads like any other files you did not create. This page copies image payloads out of the file; it does not promise they are safe.

Extract embedded images from a NetCDF file online

Got a NetCDF (.nc) data file from a weather, ocean, or satellite archive that has a preview image locked inside it? This page extracts the embedded images from a NetCDF file so you can download them as plain PNG or JPEG files — no scientific software, no command line.

How to extract images from a NetCDF file online

Upload a NetCDF file (.nc, .netcdf) up to 40 MB.
Press Convert file.
Download the images that were found inside.

What gets extracted

Many NetCDF products carry picture data inside the file itself:

Thumbnail attributes — many NASA and NOAA files store a base64-encoded PNG preview in a global attribute (often named thumbnail).
Image variables — some products keep the raw PNG or JPEG bytes in a plain byte array.

This page reads the file's own bytes, verifies each image from its header and chunk/marker structure, and writes it out unchanged. A truncated or corrupted image payload is dropped rather than guessed at.

Limits

40 MB per NetCDF file
Up to 16 images per file
8 MB per image, 24 MB total

NetCDF-3 (classic) and NetCDF-4 (HDF5-based) files are both accepted; a non-NetCDF file simply returns nothing.

What you get

The embedded pictures as separate downloads named image_001.png, image_002.jpg, and so on — the same bytes that were inside the file, ready to view in any image app.

Operation details

What happens: A Python stdlib script (run inside Blender's sandbox) scans the NetCDF bytes for PNG signatures, JPEG markers, and long base64 attribute payloads. Valid images are carved out byte-for-byte; nothing is re-rendered.

Inputs: NetCDF-3 or NetCDF-4 (.nc, .netcdf) up to 40 MB.

Output: Up to 16 PNG/JPEG files (8 MB each, 24 MB total). Empty result if no embedded images exist — no placeholder is invented.

Metadata: Extracted images keep their own internal EXIF/chunks; NetCDF global attributes are not copied alongside downloads.

Common failures: Non-NetCDF files return zero images; truncated image payloads inside the file are skipped rather than guessed.

Use when: A weather, ocean, or satellite product ships a thumbnail inside the .nc file and you need a normal image file.