Convert BMP to PCX Online
Massive file sizes (a 1920x1080 image is ~6 MB uncompressed) make it impractical for web or sharing. Converting to PCX gives you a key advantage: simple run-length encoding makes it one of the easiest raster formats to parse programmatically. PCX is best for opening legacy dos-era graphics and early pc game artwork from the 1980s and 1990s.
Why Convert BMP to PCX?
Massive file sizes (a 1920x1080 image is ~6 MB uncompressed) make it impractical for web or sharing — converting to PCX overcomes this by providing simple run-length encoding makes it one of the easiest raster formats to parse programmatically
PCX is the right choice when you need to: recovering artwork from vintage dos games and software archives
Gain broader compatibility — PCX works with IrfanView, XnView, GIMP, Adobe Photoshop (import), most legacy image viewers
Your BMP files were created for legacy windows application resources and system icon bitmaps, but now you need a format suited to different workflows
BMP vs PCX — Format Comparison
Windows Bitmap (.bmp)
PiCture eXchange (.pcx)
How to Convert BMP to PCX
Upload your BMP file
Drag your .bmp file onto the upload area or click to browse. We accept BMP files up to 100 MB.
Choose PCX as output format
Select .pcx (PiCture eXchange) from the format list. PCX uses lossless compression, so your output quality matches the source.
Convert and download
Click Convert and wait for processing. Your PCX file will be ready to download in seconds. The result is optimized for opening legacy dos-era graphics and early pc game artwork from the 1980s and 1990s.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the BMP to PCX conversion lossless?
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When both formats support lossless data, the conversion preserves all content. Up to 24-bit color with simple RLE lossless compression.
How large will my PCX file be compared to the original BMP?
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BMP files are typically 1 MB – 100 MB, while PCX files are typically 10 KB – 5 MB. The actual size depends on content complexity and any quality settings you choose.
What software can open the converted PCX file?
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PCX is compatible with: IrfanView, XnView, GIMP, Adobe Photoshop (import), most legacy image viewers.
What is the maximum file size I can convert?
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PureConverter accepts BMP files up to 100 MB. Your files are processed securely and deleted from our servers after conversion.
What's the difference between BMP and PCX?
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BMP (Windows Bitmap) is best for uncompressed pixel data for windows system graphics and legacy applications requiring raw bitmap access. PCX (PiCture eXchange) is best for opening legacy dos-era graphics and early pc game artwork from the 1980s and 1990s. Key tradeoff: BMP's advantage is zero processing overhead — raw pixel data can be read directly into memory without a decompression step, while PCX's advantage is simple run-length encoding makes it one of the easiest raster formats to parse programmatically.
Pro Tips for BMP to PCX Conversion
PCX preserves full quality, so your output file will be as good as the BMP source — no need to worry about compression artifacts
If your BMP file has transparency, make sure PCX supports it — PCX supports transparency
PCX works especially well for: processing scanned fax images that were stored as pcx in the 1990s
Did you know? PCX was the native format of ZSoft PC Paintbrush, which shipped with early Windows versions — it was more popular than BMP on DOS because BMP didn't exist until Windows 3.0.
Ready to Convert?
Upload your BMP file above and get your PCX in seconds. Free, fast, and secure.