Convert PCX to ODD — Free Online Converter
Convert PC Paintbrush Exchange (.pcx) to One Document Does-it-all (.odd) online for free. Fast, secure image conversion with no watermarks or registra...
Secure Transfer
HTTPS encrypted uploads
Privacy First
Files auto-deleted after processing
No Registration
Start converting instantly
Works Everywhere
Any browser, any device
How to Convert
Upload your .pcx file by dragging it into the upload area or clicking to browse.
Choose your output settings. The default settings work great for most files.
Click Convert and download your .odd file when it's ready.
About PCX to ODD Conversion
PCX (PC Paintbrush Exchange) is one of the oldest PC image formats, created by ZSoft for the PC Paintbrush program in 1985. PCX uses simple run-length encoding compression and was the dominant image format on DOS and early Windows systems. ODD (OpenDocument Drawing) is LibreOffice Draw's format for annotated vector-and-raster documents.
Converting PCX to ODD embeds the vintage bitmap image into a modern Draw document for annotation. PCX files are commonly found in retro computing archives, legacy industrial systems, and historic digital art collections that need documentation and cataloging.
Why Convert PCX to ODD?
PCX is effectively obsolete — no modern application uses it as a primary format. Converting to ODD preserves these legacy images in a current open-standard format while providing annotation tools for cataloging and documentation. Retro computing enthusiasts, digital art historians, and legacy system administrators benefit from this conversion.
For industrial applications still generating PCX output (some older CNC, medical, and scientific instruments), ODD conversion provides annotated documentation in a format that integrates with modern office workflows.
Common Use Cases
- Catalog and annotate vintage DOS-era pixel art collections from PCX archives
- Create documented inventories of legacy PCX assets from retro computing collections
- Annotate PCX output from legacy industrial instruments with measurement labels
- Build illustrated retro computing history documents from PCX screenshot archives
How It Works
The conversion decodes PCX's run-length encoded pixel data (supporting 1-bit monochrome, 8-bit indexed, and 24-bit RGB modes) and embeds the resulting image into an ODD XML package. PCX files are small by modern standards — even 24-bit 640x480 images are under 1 MB.
Quality & Performance
PCX is a lossless format (RLE compression preserves exact pixel values), so the ODD conversion maintains perfect fidelity to the original image. The limited resolution and color depth of vintage PCX files reflects the capabilities of the original hardware, not any conversion limitation.
Device Compatibility
| Device | PCX | ODD |
|---|---|---|
| Windows PC | Partial | Partial |
| macOS | Partial | Partial |
| iPhone/iPad | Partial | Partial |
| Android | Partial | Partial |
| Linux | Partial | Partial |
| Web Browser | No | No |
Tips for Best Results
- 1PCX files are tiny — batch conversion of entire retro computing archives is quick and produces small ODD files
- 2Use Draw's text tool to add provenance notes (original software, date, platform) to vintage PCX artwork
- 3For pixel art preservation, zoom to 100% in Draw to verify the conversion preserved every pixel
- 4Create multi-page ODD catalogs organizing PCX collections by era, software, or artist
PCX to ODD conversion preserves and annotates legacy PC Paintbrush images in a modern open-standard format, supporting documentation of retro computing history and legacy industrial system output.