PCX to SVG Converter
Convert PCX to SVG in your browser. The PCX's pixels are traced into vector paths, so the result scales cleanly and can be edited in a vector app. You get an SVG traced into vector paths (or, if you prefer, the pixels embedded in an SVG wrapper). 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 SVG
- 1
Add your PCX files: drop them here, choose them, or paste from the clipboard.
- 2
Choose how many colours to trace; fewer colours give simpler paths.
- 3
Click Convert. Each file is decoded and encoded in a background thread on this device.
- 4
Download the .svg files one at a time or together as a ZIP.
Why use Aback Images for pcx to svg
Where the SVG goes next
SVG opens in every browser, Illustrator, Inkscape, Figma and most design tools.
SVG next to PCX
A traced SVG describes every patch of colour as a path: logos and flat art stay compact, while photographs turn into very large markup.
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 SVG
What changes from PCX to SVG
Encoding: the PCX uses byte-wise run-length encoding; SVG uses XML text describing paths, shapes and text, sometimes gzipped as .svgz, and the download is an SVG traced into vector paths (or, if you prefer, the pixels embedded in an SVG wrapper).
Bit depth: 1, 2, 4 or 8 bits per pixel with a palette, or 24-bit as three 8-bit planes in the PCX; SVG allows not fixed: coordinates and colours are continuous values, and the SVG written here has vector paths with flat colours.
Colour: a 16 or 256-colour palette, or 24-bit RGB in the PCX; SVG supports sRGB by default, other spaces through CSS colour functions, written here as flat colour regions.
Metadata: the PCX can carry only a 128-byte header with the resolution; SVG can carry title, description and RDF metadata elements, 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 SVG
SVG describes shapes, paths and text as XML instead of pixels, so it stays crisp at any size. It is the standard for logos, icons and illustrations on the web.
An SVG is an XML document: a root <svg> element with a viewBox, then paths, shapes, text, gradients and filters. It can also embed raster images and, dangerously, scripts, which is why untrusted SVG is sanitized before rendering here.
When converting PCX to SVG makes sense
SVG is the better choice for logos, icons and illustrations, while PCX suits DOS-era software, retro games and old fax or scanner tools.
SVG strengths: Infinitely scalable and sharp; Tiny files for logos and icons; Editable as text and styleable with CSS. Drawbacks to weigh: Not suitable for photographs; Can contain scripts, so untrusted SVG must be sanitized; Many apps and social sites will not accept it.
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.
- Tracing approximates the image with flat-colour shapes, so photographs become poster-like art rather than exact copies.
- Logos, icons and line art with clear edges trace best; raise the colour count for more detail.
More conversions
Related tools
Convert SVG to PCX in your browser, rendered sharp at the size you choose. Batch, private, no uploads.
Convert any image (HEIC, PNG, WebP, AVIF, RAW, PSD, SVG and 26 more) to SVG in bulk, right in your browser.
Convert JPG to SVG in your browser, traced into real vector paths. Batch, private, no uploads.
Shrink JPG, PNG, WebP, AVIF and GIF files with MozJPEG, OxiPNG and modern codecs, with a live before/after preview.
Resize to exact pixels, a percentage or a longest side, with Lanczos3 and Magic Kernel resampling. Batch ready.
Strip EXIF, GPS, XMP, IPTC and comments losslessly. Pixels are never re-encoded for JPG, PNG and WebP.
Convert between 34 image formats in bulk: HEIC, WebP, AVIF, JPEG XL, PNG, JPG, GIF, TIFF, SVG, ICO, PSD, RAW and more.
Frequently asked questions
Does converting PCX to SVG lose quality?
SVG is lossy, so detail the eye barely notices is discarded to save space.
Is the SVG a real vector or just embedded pixels?
By default the image is traced into true vector paths, so it scales without pixelation and can be edited in Illustrator, Figma or Inkscape. You can switch to embedding the pixels inside an SVG wrapper if you need an exact copy.
Which apps open SVG files?
Every browser, Illustrator, Inkscape, Figma and most design tools.
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.