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PCX PDF
File conversion

Convert PCX to PDF

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Verified by Adam B.· reviewed by FE Editorial ·updated Aug 6, 2026
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Is it possible to convert PCX to PDF?
Yes - PCX converts to PDF.

You can do it right here with our free converter - no sign-up, and your file is deleted right after.

The fastest path is to use the converter on this page: upload your .pcx file and get a PDF in seconds, free. The result is a raster image embedded in a PDF container - it is not a searchable text document and will carry no selectable text.

7 programs
Also to PDF: LTX · TEX · DWG

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Tested on macOS, Windows & Linux
Last verified Sep 2026

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PCX → PDF converterFREE
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Why convert PCX to PDF?

PCX is a legacy raster format from 1985 that almost no modern software opens natively. Converting to .PDF makes the image viewable on any device without specialized tools. PDF is also the standard format for email attachments, document portals, and print queues.

How to convert PCX to PDF

IrfanView FREE

Open the .pcx file in IrfanView, then choose File > Save As and select PDF as the output format; batch conversion is also supported via File > Batch Conversion.

Print to PDF BUILT-IN

Open the PCX in any viewer that supports it and print to Microsoft Print to PDF - no extra installation needed on Windows 10/11.

GIMP FREE

Open the .pcx file in GIMP, then choose File > Export As and set the filename with a .pdf extension.

Command line - ImageMagick CLI

Run magick input.pcx output.pdf; use magick *.pcx combined.pdf to merge multiple PCX files into one multi-page PDF.

Programs that convert PCX

Adobe Illustrator
Ability Photopaint
Adobe Photoshop
XnConvert
Free PDF Converter
Picture Resize Free Online Images Converter
ZAMZAR - Free Online File Conversion

About these formats

.PCX ZSoft Paintbrush Bitmap Image (PiCture eXchange)

A PCX file is a ZSoft PC Paintbrush bitmap image from 1985, one of the oldest raster formats on the PC. Almost any image program opens it for free - IrfanView or XnView on Windows, GIMP on…

Open .PCX details →
.PDF Portable Document Format

A PDF (Portable Document Format) is a fixed-layout document that looks identical on every device - fonts, images, and layout are all embedded. Open it in any browser or the built-in viewer…

Open .PDF details →

Quality & what to watch

  • The PDF contains the PCX as a raster image, not selectable text - the result is not searchable.
  • PCX files often have no reliable DPI metadata, so the output page may appear very large or very small; set the correct DPI before converting if print size matters.
  • ImageMagick uses JPEG compression inside the PDF by default, which is lossy - add -compress Lossless to the command to preserve original quality.

Frequently asked questions

Will converting PCX to PDF reduce image quality?
Most tools, including IrfanView and GIMP, preserve the original quality. ImageMagick applies JPEG compression by default, which is lossy - add -compress Lossless to avoid it.
Can I put multiple PCX files into one PDF?
Yes - in ImageMagick run magick *.pcx combined.pdf and each PCX becomes one page. XnConvert also supports batch conversion to a single PDF.
Why does the PDF page size look wrong after conversion?
PCX files often lack reliable DPI data, so the converter falls back to a default (typically 72 or 96 DPI). Set the intended DPI in IrfanView under Image > Information, or add -density 300 to the ImageMagick command.
What is a PCX file exactly?
PCX is a raster image format developed by ZSoft in 1985, once common in DOS-era software. It uses simple RLE compression and supports color depths from 1-bit monochrome up to 24-bit truecolor.