PCT to PCX Converter

Online PCT to PCX image converter — free to use

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Quality Preserved

The conversion transfers all pixel data from PCT to PCX faithfully. No detail is lost during the format change.

Cloud-Powered

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

Straightforward Steps

No technical knowledge required. Upload your PCT image, choose PCX output, and download — clear, guided, and intuitive.

How to convert PCT to PCX

1

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

2

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

3

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

About formats

PCT (also known as PICT) is a metafile graphics format originally developed by Apple Computer and introduced alongside the original Macintosh in January 1984. PCT files can contain both vector drawing commands and raster bitmap data, encoded as a sequence of QuickDraw drawing operations — the same graphics primitives used by the Macintosh operating system for all on-screen rendering. The format evolved through two major versions: PICT 1, which recorded basic QuickDraw operations (lines, rectangles, ovals, text, 1-bit bitmaps) in a compact format suitable for the original Macintosh's limited memory, and PICT 2, introduced with Color QuickDraw in 1987, which extended the format to support 24-bit color, multiple color spaces, and embedded JPEG-compressed data. PCT files begin with a 512-byte header (originally used for resource fork information), followed by the picture size, bounding rectangle, and a sequence of opcodes that define the drawing operations. During the Macintosh's commercial ascendancy, PICT was the universal graphics interchange format on Mac OS — the system clipboard used PICT for all graphical copy/paste operations, and most Mac applications could import and export the format. One advantage is the hybrid vector/raster nature: PCT files from the QuickDraw era preserve both scalable drawing commands and pixel data in a single format, enabling resolution-independent output for the vector portions. PICT's historical significance as the native Mac graphics format throughout the classic Mac OS era (1984-2001) provides another dimension. PCT files remain readable by Preview) on macOS, ImageMagick, XnView, LibreOffice, and GIMP.
Developer: Apple Computer
Initial release: 1984
PCX (PiCture eXchange) is a raster image format created by ZSoft Corporation in 1985 as the native format of their PC Paintbrush application, one of the first painting programs for IBM PC compatibles. The format uses a simple run-length encoding (RLE) compression scheme that works by replacing consecutive identical pixel values with a count-value pair, achieving modest compression on images with large areas of uniform color. A PCX file consists of a 128-byte header (specifying dimensions, color depth, palette information, DPI, and encoding method), the RLE-compressed pixel data organized in scan-line order, and an optional 256-color palette appended after the image data. The format evolved through several versions supporting increasing color depths: 1-bit monochrome, 4-bit (16 colors), 8-bit (256 colors), and 24-bit true color using multiple color planes. PCX became one of the most popular image formats during the DOS era, widely supported by paint programs, word processors, desktop publishers, and early games throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s. One advantage was broad DOS-era software compatibility — PCX served as a practical interchange format when competing programs used proprietary raster formats. The simplicity of RLE decoding is another strength, requiring minimal CPU and memory resources ideal for the hardware of that period. While PNG, JPEG, and other modern formats have replaced PCX in contemporary use, the format remains encountered in legacy archives and retro computing contexts.
Developer: ZSoft Corporation
Initial release: 1985

Frequently Asked Questions

Why convert PCT to PCX?

PCT was standard on classic Mac OS but is now obsolete. Converting to PCX brings those images into a format modern editors handle natively.

How do I open a PCX file?

IrfanView, XnView, GIMP, Photoshop, Paint.NET, and legacy DOS/Windows applications that use PCX natively.

Can I convert multiple PCT files at once?

Yes — Convertio supports batch uploads. Queue several PCT files and convert them all to PCX in one session, saving time on repetitive tasks.

Where can I upload PCT files from?

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

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 PCT to PCX.

Are colors preserved during conversion?

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