PCX to GIF Converter
Convert PCX to GIF in your browser. PCX files usually come from DOS paint programs (PC Paintbrush, Deluxe Paint), old games, and fax and scanner software; GIF is the better fit for short animations and reactions that must play everywhere. You get a GIF with an optimised palette of up to 256 colours per frame, dithered. 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 GIF
- 1
Add your PCX files: drop them here, choose them, or paste from the clipboard.
- 2
There is nothing to tune: the GIF is written losslessly. Resizing and rotating are under More options if you need them.
- 3
Click Convert. Each file is decoded and encoded in a background thread on this device.
- 4
Download the .gif files one at a time or together as a ZIP.
Why use Aback Images for pcx to gif
Where the GIF goes next
GIF opens in every browser, operating system, chat app and editor.
GIF next to PCX
Both sides are lossless, so the size depends on how well the GIF encoder handles this picture compared with the PCX's byte-wise run-length encoding.
Written without a lossy pass
The GIF is written losslessly, so the pixels decoded from the PCX arrive unchanged.
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 GIF
What changes from PCX to GIF
Encoding: the PCX uses byte-wise run-length encoding; GIF uses lossless LZW over a palette of at most 256 colours, and the download is a GIF with an optimised palette of up to 256 colours per frame, dithered.
Bit depth: 1, 2, 4 or 8 bits per pixel with a palette, or 24-bit as three 8-bit planes in the PCX; GIF allows 8 bits per pixel, as indexes into a palette, and the GIF written here has 8 bits per pixel (palette).
Colour: a 16 or 256-colour palette, or 24-bit RGB in the PCX; GIF supports an indexed palette of up to 256 colours per frame, written here as an indexed palette of up to 256 colours.
Metadata: the PCX can carry only a 128-byte header with the resolution; GIF can carry comment and application extension blocks, but no EXIF, 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 GIF
GIF is the classic animated image format. It is limited to 256 colours per frame and 1-bit transparency, so photos look grainy and files are large, but it plays everywhere.
A GIF starts with 'GIF89a' (or the older 87a), a logical screen descriptor and an optional global colour table, then image blocks, each preceded by a graphic control extension that sets its delay and transparent colour.
When converting PCX to GIF makes sense
GIF is the better choice for short animations and reactions that must play everywhere, while PCX suits DOS-era software, retro games and old fax or scanner tools.
GIF strengths: Animation that works everywhere; Simple, universally supported; Good for small flat graphics. Drawbacks to weigh: Only 256 colours per frame; Hard-edged transparency only; Large files for photos or long clips.
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.
- GIF stores at most 256 colours per frame, so photographs show dithering or banding.
- GIF transparency is all or nothing per pixel, so soft shadows and anti-aliased edges get a hard fringe.
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Frequently asked questions
Does converting PCX to GIF lose quality?
GIF is written losslessly, so the pixels are stored exactly as decoded.
Which apps open GIF files?
Every browser, operating system, chat app and 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.