PHOTOGRAPHY
PCX files.
The PCX file type is an early image format whose popularity has declined since its release in 1985. Some software programs still use PCX because the file type has faxing and scanning applications. Discover the pros and cons of the PCX file type — and how to create a PCX image.
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What is a PCX file?
PCX, an acronym for Picture Exchange, is a raster image file type, which means that it uses colour pixels to display images. The other main type of image format is vector, which creates visuals using a complex structure of points, lines, graphs and formulas.
PCX supports 24-bit colour images, 8-bit grayscale and 1-bit black and white, as well as indexed colour images. PCX files use the .PCX extension. Multi-page PCXs often save as .DCX.
The PCX format uses RLE (run-length encoding) lossless compression — meaning it doesn’t lose any quality or data when compressed.
History of the PCX file.
ZSoft published the PCX file in 1985 as the native file format for their PC Paintbrush programme. The PCX file became a widely accepted standard format for the MS-DOS operating system. It was also one of the first Bitmap image formats used on Windows, but fell out of favour after the release of more advanced image file formats like JPEG, GIF and PNG.
Initially, PCXs only supported up to 256 palette-based colours. This later extended to incorporate 24-bit colour, too. Currently, PCX can support up to 16 million colours.
Today, Windows operating systems still support PCX files. They’re also compatible with Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop and several other applications.
How to use a PCX file.
Though they are no longer commonplace, PCX files have several uses:
Faxing.
The PCX format has the capacity for multi-page files, making it a useful file type for fax applications. These file types have the .DCX extension, but incorporate a set of connected PCXs.
Scanning.
The lossless compression and 24-bit colour of PCX mean they can also be a useful file type for scanning. Plus, a number of scanning applications support them.
Pros and cons of PCX files.
There are many PCX advantages and disadvantages to consider before using this file format.
Advantages of PCX files.
- By handling millions of colour options, PCXs remain a solid choice for editing images.
- PCX files have lossless compression, so they won’t lose quality when saved, transferred or shared.
- PCXs are compatible with several Adobe products, including Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop — as well as a range of scanning and faxing applications.
Disadvantages of PCX files.
- By retaining their data in a lossless format, PCX files can be large.
- PCX files are not usually suitable for web use.
- Many Windows, Adobe and faxing or scanning apps don’t support PCX. You might find it challenging to transfer, store, open or save your files with other programmes.
How to open a PCX file.
Follow these simple steps to open a PCX file with Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Illustrator:
- Open Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Illustrator.
- Select File > Open.
- Select your PCX image from your computer.
- Click Open.
How to create and edit a PCX file.
Follow these easy steps to create a PCX using Adobe Photoshop:
1. Open an Illustrator file and click Save As
2. Select PCX from the Format drop-down menu.
3. Save your new PCX file to a location of your choice.
PCX files: frequently asked questions.
Are PCXs raster or vector files?
What is MS-DOS?
What is PC Paintbrush?
Are PCXs and DCXs the same?
