PCX was THE DOS-era image format: ZSoft Paintbrush's RLE-compressed raster that every 1990s game, scanner and clipart CD shipped in. Simple enough that its spec fits on one page.
Typical use: Convert PCX files from retro games and clipart archives into PNG or JPG.
About the PCX format
PCX was the image format of the DOS decade: ZSoft Paintbrush's run-length-encoded raster that every scanner, game and clipart CD adopted because it was published, simple and fast on 286 hardware. The header is a fixed 128 bytes, the palette hides in the final 769, and the whole file can be decoded by one while-loop.
Retro gaming archives and 90s clipart collections are full of PCX files. Converting them to PNG or JPG finally makes them viewable — the pixels were always fine, the container was just ancient.
Strengths
- ✓ Decoded by a single RLE loop — no dependencies
- ✓ Ubiquitous in DOS-era archives
- ✓ Supports paletted and 24-bit variants
Limitations
- ✗ Effectively dead since Windows 95
- ✗ Rows padded — some files have alignment quirks
- ✗ 256-color ceiling for most real-world files
- Structure
- 128B header + RLE rows + 769B palette
- Types / schema
- 1/4/8-bit paletted, 24-bit RGB
- Compatibility
- DOS era, GIMP, ImageMagick
- Best for
- Retro game and clipart archives
Convert PCX to…
48 direct directions plus 12 workflows, sorted A–Z; 🔥 marks popular targets.
Cross-engine workflows
Convert other files to PCX…
Frequently asked questions
What is a PCX file?
PCX was THE DOS-era image format: ZSoft Paintbrush's RLE-compressed raster that every 1990s game, scanner and clipart CD shipped in. Simple enough that its spec fits on one page.
How do I convert PCX files online?
Pick a target format from the "Convert PCX to…" list below, drop your file and hit convert. Everything runs in your browser — no install, no upload, no watermark, no limits.
Is it safe to convert PCX files here?
Yes. Every conversion is performed by your own device inside the browser — files never leave for a server, and the page keeps working even offline.
Which formats can PCX convert to?
This page lists all 60 directions across documents, images, audio, video, spreadsheets and archives — each one is its own free converter page.