PCX to JPG Converter
Convert PCX to JPG in your browser. PCX files usually come from DOS paint programs (PC Paintbrush, Deluxe Paint), old games, and fax and scanner software; JPG is the better fit for photographs that need to open anywhere. You get a standard JPEG 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 JPG
- 1
Add your PCX files: drop them here, choose them, or paste from the clipboard.
- 2
Set the quality. 85 to 92 looks identical to the original for most photos; 70 to 80 saves much more with little visible change.
- 3
Click Convert. Each file is decoded and encoded in a background thread on this device.
- 4
Download the .jpg files one at a time or together as a ZIP.
Why use Aback Images for pcx to jpg
Where the JPG goes next
JPG opens in every operating system, browser, phone, photo kiosk and image editor.
JPG next to PCX
A lossy JPG 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 JPG
What changes from PCX to JPG
Encoding: the PCX uses byte-wise run-length encoding; JPG uses lossy DCT coding in 8×8 pixel blocks, with colour usually stored at half resolution, and the download is a standard JPEG 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; JPG allows 8 bits per channel, and the JPG written here has 8 bits per channel.
Colour: a 16 or 256-colour palette, or 24-bit RGB in the PCX; JPG supports YCbCr shown as RGB, greyscale, or CMYK from print software, written here as 8-bit sRGB.
Metadata: the PCX can carry only a 128-byte header with the resolution; JPG can carry EXIF (camera, date, GPS), XMP, IPTC and an ICC profile in APP segments, 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 JPG
JPEG is the universal photo format. It compresses by discarding fine detail the eye is least sensitive to, which makes photos small but blurs sharp edges and text if pushed too far.
A JPEG starts with the bytes FF D8 and is a run of marker segments: APP1 carries EXIF and often a thumbnail, APP2 an ICC profile, DQT the quantization tables that decide the quality, and SOS the compressed scan, which ends at FF D9.
When converting PCX to JPG makes sense
JPG is the better choice for photographs that need to open anywhere, while PCX suits DOS-era software, retro games and old fax or scanner tools.
JPG strengths: Opens everywhere: every browser, phone, camera, printer and app; Small files for photographs; Adjustable quality from tiny to near-lossless. Drawbacks to weigh: No transparency; Lossy: every re-save loses a little more; Blocky artifacts around text, logos and sharp lines.
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.
- JPG has no transparency and no animation; it is the safest choice when a file must open on any device or upload form.
- Each time a JPG is edited and saved again it loses a little more detail, so keep your original for further editing.
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Frequently asked questions
Does converting PCX to JPG lose quality?
JPG is lossy, so detail the eye barely notices is discarded to save space.
What quality should I choose for JPG?
85 to 92 looks identical to the original for most photos. 70 to 80 saves a lot more with little visible change. Below 60, blocking appears around edges and in skies.
Which apps open JPG files?
Every operating system, browser, phone, photo kiosk and image editor.
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.