PCX to PCD Converter

Change PCX to PCD format — free conversion online

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Wide Compatibility

Convert PCX to PCD and dozens of other formats. Convertio supports hundreds of conversion directions for maximum flexibility.

Cloud-Powered

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

No Installation

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

How to convert PCX to PCD

1

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

2

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

3

Let the file convert and you can download your pcd 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
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

Frequently Asked Questions

Why convert PCX to PCD?

PCX is a DOS-era bitmap with limited modern support — converting to PCD makes your image accessible in current software and shareable across platforms.

What can I use to view PCD files?

IrfanView, XnView, GIMP, and Kodak Photo CD compatible software. Some older photo managers also read PCD.

Is the original resolution preserved?

Yes — the pixel dimensions of your PCX image are maintained in the PCD output. No downscaling or cropping happens during conversion.

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.

Does converting PCX to PCD lose quality?

The conversion preserves the quality stored in the original PCX file. No additional degradation occurs during the format change on Convertio.

Are colors preserved during conversion?

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

PCX to PCD Quality Rating

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