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PCD PNG
File conversion

Convert PCD to PNG

Verified by Adam B.· reviewed by FE Editorial ·updated Jul 4, 2026
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Is it possible to convert PCD to PNG?
Yes - PCD converts to PNG.

Use XnView Classic (32-bit build) to open the .pcd at full resolution and save as PNG. Set resolution to Base 16 (2048x3072) in Tools > Options > Read > PhotoCD first, or the tool defaults to a small thumbnail. Web-based converters are generally not reliable for PCD files.

8 programs
Also to PNG: QOI · APM · PBM

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Tested on macOS, Windows & Linux
Last verified Oct 2026

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Why convert PCD to PNG?

PCD is an obsolete 1992 format with no native support in modern software. PNG is lossless and universally supported, making it a good choice when you plan to edit the photo further or need a pixel-exact copy of the scan. For casual sharing, JPEG produces smaller files.

How to convert PCD to PNG

XnView FREE

Use the 32-bit Classic build; go to Tools > Options > Read > PhotoCD and set resolution to Base 16 (2048x3072), then open the .pcd and save as PNG via File > Save As.

IrfanView FREE

Install IrfanView and its PlugIns pack (which includes PHOTOCD.DLL), open the .pcd at high resolution, and save as PNG via File > Save As.

ACDSee Photo Manager APP

Open the .pcd in ACDSee Photo Manager and export as PNG via File > Save As.

reaConverter APP

Add the .pcd files as input, select PNG as the output format, and run the batch conversion.

Programs that convert PCD

Adobe Photoshop
ACDSee Photo Manager
PhotoFiltre Studio
PolyTrans|CAD+DCC
reaConverter
Xara Page & Layout Designer
Adobe Photoshop for Mac
Apache OpenOffice Draw (OpenOffice.org Draw)

About these formats

.PCD Kodak Photo CD Image

A PCD file is a Kodak Photo CD image, a 1990s format that stored scanned film photos at multiple resolutions on a CD. Windows has no built-in support, and most modern 64-bit apps either…

Open .PCD details →
.PNG Portable Network Graphics

A PNG (Portable Network Graphics) is a lossless raster image format. Every modern OS, browser, and image app opens PNGs natively - just double-click. The most common questions are not about…

Open .PNG details →

Quality & what to watch

  • Use the 32-bit Classic build of XnView - the 64-bit MP build may not read PCD files at full resolution because Kodak's decoder was a 32-bit plugin.
  • Set resolution to Base 16 (2048x3072) before opening to extract the largest available layer from the .pcd file.
  • PNG is lossless and produces larger files than JPEG - use JPEG if file size matters and exact pixel accuracy is not required.

Frequently asked questions

Why is the converted PNG very small or low resolution?
Many tools default to the lowest-resolution layer in the PCD file. In XnView Classic, set the resolution to Base 16 in Tools > Options > Read > PhotoCD before opening.
Can I batch-convert multiple .pcd files to PNG?
Yes - XnView Classic supports batch conversion via Tools > Batch Convert; add all .pcd files and set PNG as the output format.
Is PNG better than JPEG for Photo CD scans?
PNG is lossless and preserves every pixel from the scan; use JPEG for smaller files when exact pixel accuracy is not required.