How to convert PCX to JPG
- Add your .PCX file - drop it in the box above or click to browse.
- Convert it to .JPG in a few seconds.
- Download your new .JPG file.
What to expect
- JPG is lossy - PCX uses lossless RLE compression, so every conversion to JPG permanently discards some pixel data; keep your original
.pcxif you may need to re-export. - 8-bit (256-color)
.pcxfiles open in indexed-color mode in GIMP; go to Image > Mode > RGB before exporting, or the JPEG export option may be unavailable. - PCX was used heavily for clip art and line drawings; JPG compression creates visible artifacts around flat-color areas and hard edges, so
.pngis a better target for that type of content.
Frequently asked questions
Does converting PCX to JPG lose quality?
Yes. PCX uses lossless RLE compression while JPG discards some pixel data to reduce file size. Use a quality setting of 80-90 in the export dialog to minimize visible loss.
Can I batch-convert a folder of PCX files to JPG?
Yes - IrfanView (File > Batch Conversion), XnConvert, and ImageMagick (
magick mogrify -format jpg *.pcx) all process whole folders at once.Should I convert PCX to JPG or PNG?
Choose
.jpg for photos or photo-like images where file size matters. Choose .png for clip art, logos, or diagrams with flat colors and sharp edges, since PNG is lossless and avoids compression artifacts.Is there a quality difference between converters?
No - IrfanView, GIMP, XnConvert, and ImageMagick all decode PCX identically; the output quality depends on the JPG quality setting you choose, not on which program you use.
Programs that convert PCX: Adobe Photoshop · Adobe Illustrator · Diagram Designer · PhotoFiltre Studio · PolyTrans|CAD+DCC · Xara Page & Layout Designer · Artweaver · Corel Presentations
