PWP to PDB Converter

Convert PWP to PDB — no software required

Drop files here. 1 GB maximum file size or Sign Up
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Batch Recovery

Found a floppy disk full of PWP files? Upload and convert them all at once — no need to rescue each photo individually.

Fast Photo Rescue

Seattle FilmWorks PWP files are small by modern standards. Expect conversion to complete in just a few seconds.

Remote Decoding

PWP files are decoded and converted entirely in the cloud. Your computer contributes zero resources to the recovery process.

How to convert PWP to PDB

1

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

2

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

3

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

About formats

PWP is a proprietary image format used by Seattle FilmWorks (later renamed PhotoWorks) for their internet-based photo delivery service in the mid-to-late 1990s. When customers mailed film rolls to Seattle FilmWorks for developing, the company offered a Pictures Online service that let users download their scanned photos through a dial-up internet connection. PWP files were the format used for these online downloads, containing JPEG-compressed image data wrapped in a proprietary container with additional metadata for the PhotoWorks viewing software. The format was intentionally tied to Seattle FilmWorks' proprietary desktop viewer application (PhotoMail), which customers needed to install to view and manage their downloaded photos. PWP represented one of the earliest attempts at digital photo delivery — bridging the gap between traditional film processing and the emerging internet, at a time when most consumers had no other way to get digital copies of their photographs. One advantage of the PWP format's historical context is that it preserves scanned film images from a transitional era when few consumers owned digital cameras or scanners, making PWP files potentially the only digital record of photographs from that period. The format's JPEG-based internal structure is another practical consideration: despite the proprietary wrapper, the underlying image data uses standard JPEG compression, and tools like ImageMagick, XnView, and dedicated PWP converters can extract the images for viewing in any modern application.
Developer: Seattle FilmWorks
Initial release: 1994
PDB (Palm Database) is a generic database container format created by Palm, Inc. for the Palm OS platform, first appearing with the original PalmPilot in March 1996. In the ebook context, PDB files most commonly use the PalmDOC or Plucker encoding to store readable text with basic formatting. The format consists of a 78-byte header identifying the database name, creation date, and record count, followed by a record index table and the data records themselves. PalmDOC-encoded PDB files use a simple LZ77-based compression scheme to pack plain text efficiently, while Plucker extends this with HTML rendering, image support, and hyperlink navigation. PDB ebooks powered a thriving mobile reading ecosystem years before dedicated e-readers existed — millions of Palm OS users carried entire libraries on devices like the Palm V, Tungsten, and Treo handhelds. A primary advantage is extreme simplicity: the flat record structure and minimal overhead mean PDB files parse instantly even on severely constrained hardware with limited memory and processing power. The open, well-documented structure is another strength, having spawned numerous reader applications across Palm OS, Windows, and later mobile platforms. Though the Palm platform is long discontinued, PDB ebooks remain accessible through conversion tools and readers like Calibre, and the format holds historical significance as one of the earliest practical mobile ebook solutions.
Developer: Palm, Inc.
Initial release: March 1996

Frequently Asked Questions

Why convert PWP to PDB?

The PWP format died with Seattle FilmWorks. If you found old floppy disks with your photos, converting to PDB is the way to recover them.

What opens PDB?

Palm OS viewers, specialized PDB readers, and some e-reader applications open PDB image files.

Will the image quality be preserved?

The converter extracts full quality from PWP RAW data and renders it into PDB with the best possible fidelity for the target format.

Do I need to install anything?

No installation at all. The PWP to PDB converter runs entirely in your web browser — just visit the page and start converting.

Is PWP to PDB conversion free?

Standard conversions are available at no cost. Premium plans add faster processing and higher limits for professional-volume work.