CONVERT
PNG → PCX
Fast, secure PNG to PCX conversion. No registration required.
DRAG. DROP. DONE.
Upload any file and our engines will handle format detection automatically.
Max 100 MB · Free plan · No signup required
Convert to:
Detecting available formats...
Uploading...
Processing your file...
Here is the short version — PNG is the lossless image standard with alpha-channel transparency and deflate compression. Hence the need for PCX. Need a PCX for a CMS, a chat message or an email client that politely refuses PNG? This tool re-encodes your image in the background and returns a drop-in PCX replacement. No registration, no watermark, no visual change beyond what the PCX encoder itself introduces. Background. PNG is the lossless image standard with alpha-channel transparency and deflate compression. Destination side, PCX is the legacy ZSoft/PC Paintbrush bitmap format from the DOS era.
PNG Image
Source formatPNG is a lossless image format that supports transparency. It is ideal for graphics, logos, screenshots, and any image where preserving exact pixel data is important.
PCX Image
Target formatPCX (PiCture eXchange) is a legacy raster image format created by ZSoft for their PC Paintbrush program. It was one of the first widely supported image formats on IBM PC compatibles and uses simple run-length encoding compression.
Why convert PNG to PCX
Converting keeps the picture recognisable end-to-end while changing the container that ships it. PCX typically wins on one of three fronts: broader software support, smaller files for the same visual quality, or features like transparency that PNG cannot express. The conversion itself is fast because both sides are raster formats.
HOW TO CONVERT
PNG → PCX
Upload your PNG
Start by dropping the PNG onto the uploader. Files up to 100 MB go through on the free tier without registration.
Conversion happens server-side
Our imagemagick-based pipeline reads the PNG pixel grid, preserves resolution and colour profile, and encodes a clean PCX.
Grab the result
A download button appears as soon as the PCX is ready. Save locally or share the short-lived URL.
Common Use Cases
Cross-platform previews
Windows, macOS and Linux file browsers all render PCX thumbnails; PNG support varies by OS version.
Mobile galleries
iOS Photos, Google Photos and Samsung Gallery index PCX instantly — PNG sometimes falls back to a generic file icon.
Stock photography uploads
Shutterstock, Adobe Stock and similar marketplaces require PCX in their contributor guidelines.
Archive migration
Converting legacy PNG archives to PCX future-proofs the collection against declining codec support.
Quality & Compatibility
Converting keeps resolution, aspect ratio and colour profile identical to the source. Metadata (EXIF, XMP) transfers where PCX supports it; otherwise it is dropped. If the PNG contained an alpha channel and PCX does not support transparency, the background is flattened to white by default.
Tips for Best Results
- When uploading to Retina / high-DPI contexts, render the PCX at 2× the CSS pixel size; the crispness gap over 1× is noticeable on modern screens.
- Strip EXIF metadata from the PCX before publishing if the PNG came from a phone camera — it often contains GPS coordinates and device IDs.
- If the PNG is a screenshot of text or UI, prefer a lossless PCX target to avoid the JPEG-style ringing around glyph edges.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on the codecs involved. If both PNG and PCX are lossy, the pixels are re-encoded and a small amount of detail is discarded — invisible at default quality settings on photographs. If PCX is lossless (PNG, TIFF, BMP) the output keeps every pixel of the decoded PNG exactly, but cannot recover detail that PNG had already compressed away.
Often yes, especially when PCX is lossless. PNG tuned for efficient web delivery will usually produce smaller files than PCX's default settings. If file size matters, drop the quality in Advanced or pick a more compressed target format instead.
KaijuConverter uploads over HTTPS, processes the image in an isolated container and deletes both the source and the output within two hours. No account is required, file contents are never logged, and we do not use uploads to train any model. For confidential material, the paid plan includes a data-processing agreement.
RELATED CONVERSIONS
Other popular pairs involving PNG or PCX
More from PNG
More ways to reach PCX
Related Guides
Best Image Format for Web: JPG vs PNG vs WebP vs AVIF
Compare JPG, PNG, WebP, and AVIF for web use. Learn which format to use for photos, logos, transparency, and optimal performance.
Read guideSVG to PNG: Convert Vector Graphics to Raster Images
Convert SVG vector graphics to PNG raster images at any resolution. Perfect for web, social media, and print. Free online converter.
Read guideSecure & Private Conversion
Your files are encrypted during transfer, processed in isolated containers, and automatically deleted within 2 hours. We never read, share, or store your data.