PCX to AVIF Converter
Convert PCX to AVIF in your browser. PCX files usually come from DOS paint programs (PC Paintbrush, Deluxe Paint), old games, and fax and scanner software; AVIF is the better fit for maximum compression on modern websites. You get an AVIF encoded with libavif (AV1) compiled to WebAssembly, at the quality you choose. Nothing is uploaded.
- Processed locally
- No upload, no wait
- No sign-up
- No watermark
Drop images here
or choose files · paste with Ctrl/⌘ V
PCX expected · other image formats also work
How to use PCX to AVIF
- 1
Add your PCX files: drop them here, choose them, or paste from the clipboard.
- 2
Set the quality. AVIF quality numbers run lower than JPEG: around 55 to 65 already looks excellent. Encoding is slow on phones.
- 3
Click Convert. Each file is decoded and encoded in a background thread on this device.
- 4
Download the .avif files one at a time or together as a ZIP.
Why use Aback Images for pcx to avif
Where the AVIF goes next
AVIF opens in Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari 16 and later, Windows 11 Photos, macOS Preview and recent editors.
AVIF next to PCX
A lossy AVIF usually comes out far smaller than the PCX, which stores byte-wise run-length encoding.
The first lossy pass
The PCX holds 1, 2, 4 or 8 bits per pixel with a palette, or 24-bit as three 8-bit planes with nothing discarded yet. This conversion is the first lossy encode these pixels see, and hard edges and flat colour show it first.
Processed on your device
Your images are decoded, edited and encoded inside this browser tab by Web Workers. Nothing is uploaded to a server.
PCX vs AVIF
What changes from PCX to AVIF
Encoding: the PCX uses byte-wise run-length encoding; AVIF uses lossy or lossless AV1 intra-frame coding, and the download is an AVIF encoded with libavif (AV1) compiled to WebAssembly, at the quality you choose.
Bit depth: 1, 2, 4 or 8 bits per pixel with a palette, or 24-bit as three 8-bit planes in the PCX; AVIF allows 8, 10 or 12 bits per channel, and the AVIF written here has 8 bits per channel.
Colour: a 16 or 256-colour palette, or 24-bit RGB in the PCX; AVIF supports YUV 4:4:4 or 4:2:0 with BT.709, Display P3 or BT.2020 primaries, HDR curves possible, written here as 8-bit sRGB.
Metadata: the PCX can carry only a 128-byte header with the resolution; AVIF can carry EXIF, XMP and ICC stored as HEIF items, but nothing is copied across.
About PCX
PCX is the image format of ZSoft's PC Paintbrush, the standard for DOS paint programs, scanners and games before GIF and BMP took over. It compresses with a simple run-length scheme.
A PCX file has a 128-byte header (the byte 0x0A, version, encoding, bits per pixel, image window, DPI, a 16-colour palette and the number of colour planes), then RLE-compressed scanlines; 256-colour files end with the byte 0x0C and a 768-byte palette.
PCX files usually come from DOS paint programs (PC Paintbrush, Deluxe Paint), old games, and fax and scanner software.
About AVIF
AVIF uses the AV1 video codec for still images. It is the most efficient widely supported format, often half the size of JPEG, with HDR, wide colour and transparency, but encoding is slow.
An AVIF is a HEIF file, the same ISO base media boxes as MP4, with the brand 'avif'. The picture is an AV1 key frame stored as an image item, and its size, colour and pixel layout are item properties.
When converting PCX to AVIF makes sense
AVIF is the better choice for maximum compression on modern websites, while PCX suits DOS-era software, retro games and old fax or scanner tools.
AVIF strengths: Often 50% smaller than JPEG; Excellent at low quality settings; Transparency, HDR and 10/12-bit colour. Drawbacks to weigh: Slow to encode, especially on phones; Not supported by some older software; Can smooth away fine texture at low quality.
Limitations
- DOS art was often drawn for 320×200 screens shown at 4:3, where pixels were slightly taller than wide, so it can look a little squashed on a modern display.
- A palette PCX holds at most 256 colours, so a full-colour target keeps them exactly but adds nothing.
- AVIF encoding is CPU-heavy, so large images and big batches take noticeably longer than JPG or WebP, especially on phones.
- Some older apps and operating systems cannot open AVIF yet; keep a JPG copy if you share the file widely.
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Frequently asked questions
Does converting PCX to AVIF lose quality?
AVIF is lossy, so detail the eye barely notices is discarded to save space.
What quality should I choose for AVIF?
AVIF quality numbers run lower than JPEG: around 55 to 65 already looks excellent. Lower values give much smaller files with gentle softening. Encoding is CPU-heavy, so large batches take a while on phones.
Which apps open AVIF files?
Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari 16 and later, Windows 11 Photos, macOS Preview and recent editors. It opens in Chrome 85+, Edge, Firefox 93+ and Safari 16+.
Are my images uploaded anywhere?
No. Processing happens inside your browser with WebAssembly and Web Workers. The site only downloads the app code and codecs; your files never leave your device. You can confirm this with the live upload counter on the tool, or in your browser's network panel.
Can I process many files at once?
Yes. Drop a whole selection or folder. Files are processed in parallel on several worker threads, each result can be downloaded on its own, and everything can be saved as one ZIP.
Is it free? Is there a file limit or watermark?
It is free with no account, no watermark and no daily limit. The only limit is your device's memory: very large images (over roughly 100 megapixels) may be refused to keep the tab from crashing.