PCX to FAX Converter

Convert PCX images to FAX format — no install needed

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Simple Workflow

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

Privacy Protected

Convertio removes uploaded PCX files right after processing and purges FAX results within 24 hours. Your data does not linger on servers.

Server-Side Speed

Conversion happens on remote servers, so your computer or phone does not slow down. Upload PCX, get FAX — all handled in the cloud.

How to convert PCX to FAX

1

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

2

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

3

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

About formats

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
FAX is a generic image file extension associated with facsimile transmission formats standardized by the ITU-T (formerly CCITT), with the underlying Group 3 compression standard ratified in 1980. FAX files typically contain monochrome (1-bit, black and white) image data compressed using the Modified Huffman (MH) encoding defined in ITU-T Recommendation T.4, which assigns variable-length codes to run lengths of consecutive white or black pixels along each scanline. The standard resolution for Group 3 fax is 204x98 dpi (normal mode) or 204x196 dpi (fine mode), reflecting the capabilities of thermal and laser fax machines of the era. FAX files encountered digitally are often raw Group 3 encoded bitstreams or TIFF wrappers with CCITT Group 3 compression (TIFF compression tag 3). The Group 3 encoding scheme is highly efficient for typical business documents — pages with mostly white space and black text — achieving compression ratios of 10:1 to 20:1 compared to uncompressed bitmaps. One advantage is universal fax system compatibility: Group 3 encoding is the mandatory baseline for all fax machines worldwide, meaning FAX files contain data in exactly the format transmitted over telephone lines, preserving the original fax data without transcoding losses. The format's role in business communications history provides another dimension — billions of fax transmissions using this encoding moved legal documents, medical records, and business correspondence for decades, and archived FAX files represent an important documentary record. FAX images can be viewed and converted using LibreOffice, ImageMagick, GIMP, and standard document management systems.
Developer: ITU-T
Initial release: 1980

Frequently Asked Questions

Why convert PCX to FAX?

Few modern applications handle PCX natively. Converting to FAX ensures your legacy image data works in today's editors, viewers, and web platforms.

What can I use to view FAX files?

Fax software, IrfanView, XnView, GIMP, and document management systems that handle scanned fax documents.

Where can I upload PCX files from?

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

Are my files secure during conversion?

All file transfers use encrypted connections. Uploaded PCX files are deleted after processing, and FAX outputs are purged within 24 hours.

Is the conversion fast?

Yes — PCX to FAX conversion on Convertio runs on cloud servers and completes in seconds for typical image files.

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.