AVIF to PCX Converter
Convert AVIF to PCX in your browser. AVIF files usually come from image CDNs, modern web build pipelines and some recent phones; PCX is the better fit for DOS-era software, retro games and old fax or scanner tools. You get a run-length encoded PCX: 8-bit indexed when the image has 256 colours or fewer, otherwise 24-bit RGB. Nothing is uploaded.
- Processed locally
- No upload, no wait
- No sign-up
- No watermark
Drop images here
or choose files · paste with Ctrl/⌘ V
AVIF expected · other image formats also work
How to use AVIF to PCX
- 1
Add your AVIF files: drop them here, choose them, or paste from the clipboard.
- 2
Pick the colour that replaces transparent areas, since PCX has none.
- 3
Click Convert. Each file is decoded and encoded in a background thread on this device.
- 4
Download the .pcx files one at a time or together as a ZIP.
Why use Aback Images for avif to pcx
Where the PCX goes next
PCX opens in GIMP, IrfanView, XnView, ImageMagick, Paint Shop Pro and DOSBox-era tools.
PCX next to AVIF
The PCX keeps the decoded pixels without lossy compression, so expect it to be larger than the AVIF.
No new artefacts
AVIF is already lossy, since it stores lossy or lossless AV1 intra-frame coding; the PCX keeps the decoded pixels losslessly, so this step adds no compression damage of its own.
Processed on your device
Your images are decoded, edited and encoded inside this browser tab by Web Workers. Nothing is uploaded to a server.
AVIF vs PCX
What changes from AVIF to PCX
Encoding: the AVIF uses lossy or lossless AV1 intra-frame coding; PCX uses byte-wise run-length encoding, and the download is a run-length encoded PCX: 8-bit indexed when the image has 256 colours or fewer, otherwise 24-bit RGB.
Bit depth: 8, 10 or 12 bits per channel in the AVIF; PCX allows 1, 2, 4 or 8 bits per pixel with a palette, or 24-bit as three 8-bit planes, and the PCX written here has 8-bit indexed or 24-bit RGB. 10 and 12-bit AVIFs, including HDR ones, are decoded to 8 bits per channel.
Colour: YUV 4:4:4 or 4:2:0 with BT.709, Display P3 or BT.2020 primaries, HDR curves possible in the AVIF; PCX supports a 16 or 256-colour palette, or 24-bit RGB, written here as 8-bit sRGB.
Transparency: the AVIF stores it as an auxiliary AV1 image stored beside the colour image; the PCX has none, so transparent areas are filled with the colour you choose.
Animation: an AV1 image sequence under the 'avis' brand; the PCX holds one image, so only the first frame is converted.
Metadata: the AVIF can carry EXIF, XMP and ICC stored as HEIF items; PCX can carry only a 128-byte header with the resolution, but nothing is copied across.
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.
AVIF files usually come from image CDNs, modern web build pipelines and some recent phones.
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.
When converting AVIF to PCX makes sense
PCX is the better choice for DOS-era software, retro games and old fax or scanner tools, while AVIF suits maximum compression on modern websites.
PCX strengths: Read by most legacy and modern viewers; Simple, lossless run-length compression. Drawbacks to weigh: Poor compression for photographs; No transparency; Obsolete outside retro software.
Limitations
- Almost any other format needs more bytes than AVIF for the same picture, so expect the file to grow.
- HDR and wide-gamut AVIFs are mapped to standard sRGB on decode, so very bright highlights can look flatter than on an HDR screen.
- PCX's run-length compression suits flat-colour art; photographs barely shrink.
- Transparency is flattened onto the background colour, since PCX has no alpha channel.
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Frequently asked questions
Does converting AVIF to PCX lose quality?
PCX is written losslessly, so the pixels are stored exactly as decoded. Artefacts already in the AVIF stay, but nothing new is lost. 10 and 12-bit AVIFs, including HDR ones, are decoded to 8 bits per channel.
What happens to transparency when converting AVIF to PCX?
AVIF stores transparency as an auxiliary AV1 image stored beside the colour image. PCX has no alpha channel, so transparent pixels are composited onto a solid colour, white unless you pick another. To keep transparency, convert to PNG, WebP or AVIF instead.
Will my animated AVIF stay animated?
No. PCX holds a single image, so only the first frame is kept. Convert to animated WebP, APNG or GIF to keep the motion, or export every frame with the GIF Frame Extractor.
Which apps open PCX files?
GIMP, IrfanView, XnView, ImageMagick, Paint Shop Pro and DOSBox-era tools. It does not open in web browsers.
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.