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PCX file format

Extension.pcx
Categoryimages
Programs
Adobe Photoshop
Microsoft Paint
Windows Picture and Fax Viewer
DescriptionThe PCX file format was developed by ZSoft Corporation, with the first release of the .pcx extension coming into the public domain in 1985. PCX is a contraction of PiCture eXchange, and was the first file format to support bitmap images; during its day of prime, PCX was the format of choice on computers that sport the DOS, and Windows operating system. However, the relevance of the PCX file format has been overshadowed by more recent and standard image formats like JPG, PNG, and GIF. The latest release of the PCX file format was in 1991, and as would be expected, the drop in popularity of the PCX has rendered its source company (ZSoft Corp) comatose.
Technical detailsAs first of its kind, the PCX format was prolific in its hay days, most especially due to its singularity in supporting bitmap images. The standard PCX file has three main elements: a 128-byte header, the actual image data sandwiched in between, and an accompanying 256-color palette – that makes sure your image is not displayed in shades of gray. Another reason why PCX was the file format of choice for pictures in the 1980s was the tremendously low processing power required for data compression. Since PCs were giant in size but petty in processing power, PCX aided the conservation of the same for other essential activities.
MIME type
application/pcx
application/x-pcx
image/pcx
image/x-pc-paintbrush
image/x-pcx
zz-application/zz-winassoc-pcx
application/octet-stream