PCX to WMF Converter

Convert PCX images to WMF vector — free online

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Batch Convert

Have multiple PCX files? Upload them all at once and convert the entire batch to WMF in a single session — saves significant time.

Browser-Based

No software to download or install. The entire PCX to WMF conversion runs in your web browser — open the page and start converting.

Secure Processing

Your PCX files are deleted immediately after conversion. WMF outputs are removed from servers within 24 hours — your images stay private.

How to convert PCX to WMF

1

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

2

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

3

Let the file convert and you can download your wmf 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
WMF (Windows Metafile) is a vector graphics format created by Microsoft, introduced with Windows 3.0 in May 1990 as the platform's native format for recording and replaying graphical operations. A WMF file captures a sequence of GDI (Graphics Device Interface) drawing commands — lines, rectangles, ellipses, polygons, text, and bitmap blits — in the order they were issued, serializing screen or printer output into a replayable file. The format uses a 16-bit coordinate space and organizes records as a linear stream of function calls with their parameters, preceded by a header specifying the bounding rectangle and resolution. WMF became deeply integrated into the Windows ecosystem as the default format for clip art collections, Office document graphics, and clipboard vector interchange during the 1990s — Microsoft Office shipped with thousands of WMF clip art images that defined a visual era of desktop publishing. One advantage is pervasive compatibility: virtually every Windows application from the past three decades can render WMF content, making it one of the most widely supported vector formats in existence. The lightweight recording model is another strength — WMF files are compact and render quickly because they replay native system drawing calls rather than interpreting a complex graphics language. While 16-bit limitations and lack of transparency and Bezier curves led Microsoft to develop EMF as a 32-bit replacement, WMF files remain ubiquitous in legacy documents and across current Windows software.
Developer: Microsoft
Initial release: May 22, 1990

Frequently Asked Questions

Why convert PCX to WMF?

PCX dates back to early PC graphics. Converting to WMF brings your image into a format that modern devices and applications recognize without issue.

How do I open a WMF file?

Microsoft Office applications, LibreOffice, CorelDRAW, Inkscape, and most Windows-based graphics tools.

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 this work on my phone?

Yes — the Convertio converter runs in any mobile browser. Upload your PCX file, pick WMF, and download the result directly on your phone.

Is it safe to upload PCX files?

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

Is PCX to WMF conversion free?

Standard conversions are free on Convertio. Premium plans provide additional benefits for users who need to process larger volumes regularly.

PCX to WMF Quality Rating

4.0 (1 votes)
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