Format

PCX

Summary

Name

PCX

Version

5

Identifiers

• PUID: fmt/90
• MIME: image/vnd.zbrush.pcx

Format type

Image (Raster)

Description

PCX (Personal Computer eXchange) is a type of lossless bitmap image format first released in 1985 and last updated in 1991. This record describes the fifth and final version of the format released in 1991. PCX was a popular format among users of MS-DOS operating system and other IBM PC compatibles. It is native image file format for DOS-based program PC Paintbrush from ZSoft Corporation. PC Paintbrush was licensed to Microsoft and evolved into the Paint/Paintbrush application included with Windows operating system. The versions of Windows 3.0 through Windows 95, support the PCX format. The format has since been succeeded by other lossless image formats, such as GIF, BMP, JPEG, and PNG.

Note

https://web.archive.org/web/20150424232312/http://web.archive.org/web/20100206055706/http://www.qzx.com/pc-gpe/pcx.txt http://formats.kaitai.io/pcx/index.html http://fileformats.archiveteam.org/wiki/PCX

File extensions

pcx, pcc

Source

Digital Preservation Department / The National Archives

Relationships

Has priority over

• MPEG 1/2 Audio Layer 3

Is subsequent version of

• PCX 4

Internal signatures

Changelog

• Updated in V106

  Release date

  4 July 2022

  PCX (5): Added priority over fmt/134. Submitted by Digital Preservation Department, The National Archives (UK).

• Added in V105

  Release date

  29 June 2022

  PCX (5): Adjusted signature for a broader identification. Updated note in signature, description, reference links and compression type. Extension 'pcc' was added. Submitted by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

  PCX (5): Signature researched and samples provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

• Updated in V84

  Release date

  21 January 2016

  PCX 5: Added MIME.

• Updated in V55

  Release date

  4 January 2012

  PCX 5: Existing signature refined through PRONOM Research.