PCX to UYVY Converter

PCX to UYVY conversion — free and online

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Faithful Transfer

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

Effortless Conversion

The converter handles everything automatically. Just upload your PCX image, pick UYVY, and the file is ready in moments.

Straightforward Steps

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

How to convert PCX to UYVY

1

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

2

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

3

Let the file convert and you can download your uyvy 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
UYVY is a packed pixel format for storing images and video frames in YUV 4:2:2 chroma-subsampled color space, with the UYVY designation indicating the byte ordering within each 4-byte macropixel: U (Cb), Y0, V (Cr), Y1. Each macropixel encodes two horizontal pixels sharing a single pair of chrominance samples (U and V) but retaining individual luminance values (Y0 and Y1), achieving 2:1 horizontal chroma subsampling that reduces data size by 33% compared to full 4:4:4 YUV while maintaining full luminance resolution. The UYVY ordering is specified as a FOURCC code in Microsoft's Video for Windows and DirectShow frameworks, and is commonly used in professional video capture cards, broadcast equipment, and video processing pipelines. UYVY raw files contain no header — the pixel data is a flat sequence of U,Y,V,Y byte quadruplets, requiring external specification of image dimensions. The 4:2:2 subsampling exploits the human visual system's lower spatial resolution for color compared to brightness: the eye notices luminance detail at much higher spatial frequencies than chrominance detail, so sharing color samples between adjacent pixels produces no visible quality loss in practice. One advantage is broadcast-standard compatibility: UYVY's 4:2:2 sampling matches the chrominance structure used in professional video standards (ITU-R BT.601, SDI), making it the natural format for video capture hardware and frame-accurate processing. The format's efficient memory layout is another strength — the packed byte arrangement enables fast DMA transfers between capture hardware and system memory. UYVY data is handled by FFmpeg, ImageMagick, and professional video capture/editing software.
Developer: ITU-T / Microsoft
Initial release: 1982

Frequently Asked Questions

Why convert PCX to UYVY?

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

What programs open UYVY files?

Video editing software, GIMP, and broadcast tools that work with raw YUV video frame data.

Can I convert multiple PCX files at once?

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

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.

Are colors preserved during conversion?

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

Are my files secure during conversion?

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