PWP to SK1 Converter

Turn PWP into SK1 online — instant conversion

Drop files here. 1 GB maximum file size or Sign Up
to
Facebook Amazon Microsoft Tesla Nestle Walmart L'Oreal

Rapid Processing

PWP files are lightweight relics of the 1990s. Our servers convert them almost instantly, delivering your rescued photos quickly.

Cloud-Based Recovery

PWP conversion runs on our servers — your device handles nothing. Rescue your Seattle FilmWorks photos from any computer.

Multi-Photo Rescue

Process all your Seattle FilmWorks PWP images in one batch. Upload everything and convert simultaneously.

How to convert PWP to SK1

1

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

2

Choose sk1 or any other format you need as a result (more than 200 formats supported)

3

Let the file convert and you can download your sk1 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
SK1 is the native file format of the sK1 project, an open-source vector graphics editor and conversion engine started by Igor Novikov in 2003 as a successor to Bernhard Herzog's Skencil. The format evolved from the original SK format, extending its capabilities while maintaining the text-based, Python-readable syntax for describing vector documents. SK1 files encode complete document structures including multiple pages, layers, guidelines, and a full hierarchy of graphic objects — Bezier paths, rectangles, circles, polygons, text blocks, and embedded raster images — with attributes for fills (solid, gradient, pattern, hatching), strokes, and transformations. The sK1 project distinguished itself by focusing on prepress and professional print production features, adding CMYK color management, ICC color profiles, spot color support, and PDF/PostScript output — capabilities unusual in open-source vector editors. One advantage is professional color handling — sK1's CMYK workflows and color management make it one of the few open-source tools suitable for print-ready vector production. The project's companion tool, UniConvertor, leverages the SK1 format as an intermediate representation for converting between numerous vector formats (CDR, CMX, WMF, EMF, SVG, and others), giving SK1 significance beyond the editor itself as a universal interchange format. The text-based file structure preserves the readability and scriptability advantages inherited from Skencil's original SK format.
Initial release: 2003

Frequently Asked Questions

Why convert PWP to SK1?

Seattle FilmWorks used PWP to deliver photos on floppy disks. The company and format are both gone — conversion lets you see these images again.

What opens SK1?

sK1 vector editor and compatible open-source illustration tools open SK1 files.

Can I edit the SK1 vector output?

Yes — open the SK1 result in any compatible vector editor to modify paths, colors, and shapes produced from your PWP image.

Does this work on Mac and Windows?

Yes — the converter runs in any web browser on any operating system. macOS, Windows, Linux, ChromeOS — all work equally well.

Does converting PWP to SK1 cost anything?

Not for standard use — basic conversions are free. Premium tiers provide faster speeds and additional features for power users.