PCD to RB Converter

Turn PCD images into RB e-books — free online

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Faithful Transfer

Image content moves from PCD to RB without degradation. Colors, dimensions, and detail are preserved throughout the conversion.

Simple Workflow

Upload your PCD file, select RB, and download the result. Three steps — no learning curve, no complicated menus to navigate.

Fast Results

PCD to RB conversion typically finishes in seconds. Cloud-based processing delivers quick turnaround even for detailed images.

How to convert PCD to RB

1

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

2

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

3

Let the file convert and you can download your rb 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
RB is the native ebook format of the Rocket eBook, one of the first commercially available dedicated e-reading devices, developed by NuvoMedia and released in October 1998. Founded by Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning — who later co-founded Tesla Motors — NuvoMedia designed the Rocket eBook as a handheld device with a reflective LCD screen, capable of storing approximately ten books in its internal memory. The RB format packages HTML-based content along with embedded images, metadata, and a table of contents into a single binary container optimized for the device's limited hardware. Content was purchased and downloaded through NuvoMedia's RocketLibrarian desktop software. A notable advantage of the format was its early support for bookmarking, annotation, dictionary lookups, and adjustable font sizing — features now standard on modern e-readers but revolutionary in the late 1990s. The Rocket eBook demonstrated viable commercial demand for dedicated reading devices, paving the way for subsequent platforms from Sony, Amazon, and others. NuvoMedia was acquired by Gemstar-TV Guide International in 2000, which discontinued the device line in 2003. While RB files are largely a historical curiosity today, they can be converted to modern formats using ebook management tools, and the format remains significant as a pioneering chapter in the evolution of digital reading.
Developer: NuvoMedia
Initial release: 1998

Frequently Asked Questions

Why convert PCD to RB?

PCD stores multi-resolution film scans from the 1990s. Converting to RB extracts those photos into a widely supported format for current use.

Which apps support RB format?

RocketBook devices, Calibre e-book manager, and legacy REB-compatible e-readers.

Can I read the RB on my e-reader?

Yes — download the RB file and transfer it to your e-reader or reading app. Most modern e-readers support the RB format natively.

Where can I upload PCD files from?

You can upload from your local device, Google Drive, Dropbox, or paste a direct URL. Convertio pulls the PCD file from any of these sources.

Is it safe to upload PCD files?

Convertio deletes uploaded files immediately after conversion. Converted output is removed from servers within 24 hours for your privacy.

Do I need to install anything?

No — the entire conversion runs in your web browser. There is nothing to download or install on your computer or phone to convert PCD to RB.