5 file types use the .bif file extension.

What is a BIF file?

Contains information used to boot a computer from a disc, such as a CD or DVD; created MagicISO, UltraISO, and other disc authoring programs; enables the creation of bootable CDs and DVDs and can be used by multiple discs.

Category: Disk Image Files

Get Backup Project File

Backup project file created by Get Backup, a backup and restore application for Mac OS X; stores settings for a backup that may be for the user's iPhoto library, Apple Mail email, iTunes library, Documents folder, or Address Book; allows the original files to be restored.

NOTE: A version of Get Backup is included with Roxio Toast disc authoring software. It is called Get Backup RE (Roxio Edition).

Programs that open BIF files

Updated: April 13, 2011

BioWare Infinity Engine File

Game resource file used by BioWare's Infinity Engine, as well as some games created with the subsequent Aurora Engine; can store various data including graphics, sound, map information, and dialog; used as a container for packaging game data.

BIF files are used for games such as Baldur's Gate, Planescape: Torment, Icewind Dale, The Witcher, and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic.

Programs that open or reference BIF files

Updated: September 23, 2015

Ventana Whole Slide Image

A BIF file may also be a slide specimen image created by a Ventana Medical Systems digital slide scanner. It contains a series of TIFF images, which slide-viewing applications combine into one composite image. BIF files are sometimes saved with the .tif file extension.

Digital slide scanners allow pathologists to scan and create digital copies of slide specimens. Pathologists can then open and examine these images in slide-viewing applications. Ventana digital slide scanners save slide specimen images as BIF or TIF files.

BIF files contain multiple images saved at different sizes and resolutions , which slide-viewing applications combine into one image. This allows pathologists to zoom in and out on a slide image, to view specimen sections in more or less detail. The files also contain XML metadata that defines how the images the file contains should be combined, as well as which image should be used as the file's thumbnail .

Those who do not have access to a Ventana digital slide scanner and its accompanying software can open BIF files using OpenSlide (cross-platform), ImageJ (cross-platform), or NetScope Viewer (Windows). Note that you may not be able to zoom correctly when viewing a BIF file in non-Ventana applications.

Programs that open BIF files

Updated: April 29, 2021

Bifrost Mesh Cache

A BIF file may also be a mesh cache created using Autodesk Maya's BIF Cache tool. It contains a polygon mesh that a user exported from a Maya scene, for use in another Maya scene. BIF files are primarily used to export the results of a Bifrost simulation, which is why they use the .bif extension and are called Bifrost Mesh Caches.

Autodesk Maya is a 3D modeling and animation tool that professional animators use to create 3D animated scenes. Bifrost is a visual programming environment included with Maya (starting with Maya 2019). Animators can use Bifrost to programmatically create, shape, and animate 3D models. Bifrost is especially useful for creating graphs, which simulate many-particle effects such as explosions, dust storms, and snowstorms.

If an animator wants to export the results of a Bifrost simulation, they can do so by selecting the polygon meshes Bifrost generated and then selecting Cache → BIF Cache → Export Selection To BIF from Maya's menu bar. Animators can also export non-Bifrost polygon meshes in this manner.

After the animator selects Export Selection , Maya will save the selected meshes in a series of BIF files. Maya creates a subfolder for each selected mesh, and by default, it creates a BIF file for each of a scene's frames. For example, for a polygon mesh named FileInfo_Example that is included in a 24 frame scene, Maya would create 24 BIF files in a folder named FileInfo_Example . While exporting BIF files, animators can choose to limit the frames for which Maya creates BIF files.

You can import BIF files into Autodesk Maya (cross-platform) for use as a polygon mesh. To do so:

The object your BIF file contains will then appear in Maya.

Programs that open BIF files

Updated: July 28, 2021