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PCD to ABW Converter

Change PCD images into ABW format — free and online

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Secure Processing

Your PCD files are deleted immediately after conversion. ABW outputs are removed from servers within 24 hours — your images stay private.

No Installation

Everything happens in the browser. Open Convertio, upload your PCD file, and download the ABW result — zero setup required.

Cloud-Powered

The PCD to ABW conversion runs on cloud servers — your device stays unburdened while the processing happens remotely and efficiently.

How to convert PCD to ABW

1

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

2

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

3

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

About formats

PCD (Photo CD) is a proprietary image format developed by Eastman Kodak in partnership with Philips, launched in 1992 as a system for transferring 35mm film photographs to compact discs for digital viewing and printing. Each PCD file stores a single photograph at five different resolutions in a hierarchical structure called an Image Pac: Base/16 (192x128), Base/4 (384x256), Base (768x512), 4Base (1536x1024), and 16Base (3072x2048), with optional 64Base (6144x4096) on Pro Photo CD discs. Images are stored in Kodak's proprietary YCC color space (a variant of CIE Lab via the Photo YCC color model), which captures a wider gamut than sRGB, at 8 bits per component in the luminance channel and subsampled chrominance. The multi-resolution pyramid is encoded using a progressive scheme: the Base image is stored directly, and each higher resolution is stored as a residual (difference) that refines the upscaled previous level, keeping the total file size manageable. One advantage is the exceptional scan quality: Photo CD scans were performed on Kodak's professional PIW (Photo Imaging Workstation) scanners by trained operators, producing consistently excellent results from 35mm negatives and slides — often better than what contemporary consumer flatbed scanners could achieve. The multi-resolution structure is another notable feature: a single PCD file serves needs from thumbnail browsing to high-resolution printing without separate file versions. PCD files can be read by Adobe Photoshop, ImageMagick, GIMP (via plugin), IrfanView, and XnView, ensuring continued access to the millions of Photo CD images created during the format's commercial peak in the 1990s.
Developer: Eastman Kodak
Initial release: 1992
ABW is the native document format of AbiWord, a free and open-source word processor originally developed by AbiSource in 1998 and later maintained as part of the GNOME Office suite. The format stores document content as well-formed XML, describing paragraphs, character formatting, page layout, headers and footers, tables, lists, footnotes, and embedded images in a human-readable structure. ABW files use a straightforward markup where document sections map to XML elements with attribute-based styling, making the format transparent and easy to parse programmatically. AbiWord was designed as a lightweight alternative to heavyweight office suites, running efficiently on older hardware and resource-constrained systems while still providing core word processing functionality. One advantage is the clean XML foundation — ABW files can be inspected, transformed, and generated using standard XML tools and scripting languages without requiring the AbiWord application itself. The lightweight nature of both the format and its parent application is another practical strength: AbiWord and its ABW format are commonly found on Linux distributions targeting older computers and educational deployments in developing countries through projects like OLPC. ABW files can be converted to mainstream formats like DOC, ODT, and PDF through AbiWord's built-in export or through document conversion tools.
Developer: AbiSource
Initial release: 1998

Frequently Asked Questions

Why convert PCD to ABW?

Kodak Photo CD service no longer exists, and PCD support is rare. Converting to ABW preserves your film scans in a format any device can display.

What can I use to view ABW files?

AbiWord word processor, and other applications that support AbiWord document format.

Are colors preserved during conversion?

Color data from the PCD file is mapped accurately into ABW. The conversion maintains the original color profile as closely as the target format allows.

How long does PCD to ABW conversion take?

Most conversions finish in seconds. Processing time depends on file size and server load, but standard images are typically converted almost instantly.

What platforms are supported?

Any device with a web browser — Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, and Chrome OS. No software installation is needed for the conversion.

Will the ABW look like my original image?

The ABW document embeds the image from the PCD file with its original dimensions and quality — the visual appearance is preserved.