PCD to XV Converter

Change PCD to XV format — free conversion online

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Batch Convert

Have multiple PCD files? Upload them all at once and convert the entire batch to XV in a single session — saves significant time.

Fast Results

PCD to XV conversion typically finishes in seconds. Cloud-based processing delivers quick turnaround even for detailed images.

Browser-Based

No software to download or install. The entire PCD to XV conversion runs in your web browser — open the page and start converting.

How to convert PCD to XV

1

Select files from Computer, Google Drive, Dropbox, URL or by dragging it on the page.

2

Choose xv or any other format you need as a result (more than 200 formats supported)

3

Let the file convert and you can download your xv file right afterwards

About formats

PCD (Photo CD) is a proprietary image format developed by Eastman Kodak in partnership with Philips, launched in 1992 as a system for transferring 35mm film photographs to compact discs for digital viewing and printing. Each PCD file stores a single photograph at five different resolutions in a hierarchical structure called an Image Pac: Base/16 (192x128), Base/4 (384x256), Base (768x512), 4Base (1536x1024), and 16Base (3072x2048), with optional 64Base (6144x4096) on Pro Photo CD discs. Images are stored in Kodak's proprietary YCC color space (a variant of CIE Lab via the Photo YCC color model), which captures a wider gamut than sRGB, at 8 bits per component in the luminance channel and subsampled chrominance. The multi-resolution pyramid is encoded using a progressive scheme: the Base image is stored directly, and each higher resolution is stored as a residual (difference) that refines the upscaled previous level, keeping the total file size manageable. One advantage is the exceptional scan quality: Photo CD scans were performed on Kodak's professional PIW (Photo Imaging Workstation) scanners by trained operators, producing consistently excellent results from 35mm negatives and slides — often better than what contemporary consumer flatbed scanners could achieve. The multi-resolution structure is another notable feature: a single PCD file serves needs from thumbnail browsing to high-resolution printing without separate file versions. PCD files can be read by Adobe Photoshop, ImageMagick, GIMP (via plugin), IrfanView, and XnView, ensuring continued access to the millions of Photo CD images created during the format's commercial peak in the 1990s.
Developer: Eastman Kodak
Initial release: 1992
XV is an alternate file extension for the VIFF (Visualization Image File Format) developed by Khoral Research as part of the Khoros scientific image processing environment, which originated at the University of New Mexico around 1990. The .xv extension and the .viff extension refer to the same underlying format — a container with a 1024-byte header encoding image dimensions, data type (from single-bit to double-precision float and complex numbers), color space, band count, and optional spatial location metadata, followed by color map data and pixel values. The XV extension became common on systems where Khoros was installed alongside other X Window System tools, and in some research communities .xv was preferred over .viff as a shorter alternative. Khoros itself was a pioneering visual programming system where scientists assembled image processing pipelines by wiring together processing nodes in a graphical canvas — an approach that predated and influenced similar environments in MATLAB, LabVIEW, and commercial remote sensing packages. One advantage of the VIFF/XV format is its ability to store data at scientific precision levels — floating-point and complex number pixel values preserve measurement accuracy that would be lost in photographic formats limited to 8-bit or 16-bit integers, making it valuable for spectral analysis, computational physics output, and satellite imagery. The multi-band architecture provides another strength, allowing a single file to hold dozens of spectral channels from multispectral or hyperspectral sensors without splitting data across multiple files. XV files are supported by ImageMagick and can be converted to modern image formats for visualization or publication.
Developer: Khoral Research
Initial release: 1990

Frequently Asked Questions

Why convert PCD to XV?

PCD files hold valuable film photo archives. Converting to XV makes them viewable on any modern device without specialized Kodak software.

What software opens XV?

Khoros/VisiQuest visualization tools, GIMP, and scientific imaging software on Unix platforms.

Can I convert multiple PCD files at once?

Yes — Convertio supports batch uploads. Queue several PCD files and convert them all to XV in one session, saving time on repetitive tasks.

Do I need to pay for this converter?

Basic PCD to XV conversions are free. Convertio offers premium tiers for heavier workloads with faster processing and priority support.

Where can I upload PCD files from?

You can upload from your local device, Google Drive, Dropbox, or paste a direct URL. Convertio pulls the PCD file from any of these sources.

Are colors preserved during conversion?

Color data from the PCD file is mapped accurately into XV. The conversion maintains the original color profile as closely as the target format allows.